|
Advaita
Vedanta: An Introduction to Oneness
The Spiritual Bookstore Online World Religion Library
Advaita Vedanta
The Indian mystical philosophies and religions are concerned not so much
with the manifest reality we see about us, but with the unmanifest
Absolute Transcendent. What matters is simply the practical attainment
of a state of this universal, transcendent, transpersonal existence. In
that state, there is no difference between individual Self (Jiva) and
God (Ishwara); there is only the qualityless Absolute (Nirguna
Brahman)[1]. In short, they are not a mental or analytical philosophy as
we understand the term in the West, but rather a conceptual system for
guiding yogic practice, with the goal being the complete transcendence
of embodied existence.
Perhaps the most important school of Indian spiritual philosophy,
Advaita Vedanta originates from the writings of Gaudapada and
Sankaracharya, who in turn were commentators on earlier scriptures such
as the Brahma Sutra, the Bhagavad Gita, and the Upanishads. As with all
Indian systems of thought, Advaita Vedanta is at the same time a school
of philosophy, a religion, a theology and a doctrine of salvation
It's basic premise is all that all that ultimately exists is the
Absolute Reality, Nirguna Brahman ("Brahman without qualities"). The
phenomenal world has empirical validity. But it has no absolute reality.
It is ultimately maya - a magical show - and mithya - false (neither
real nor unreal). All that exists is nothing but Brahman. One's
individual self is ultimately no different from Brahman, hence the
importance given to the Upanishadic sayings "I am Brahman" and "that
thou art". It is only a sort of metaphysical ignorance (avidya) that
prevents us from realising our true nature as one with the Absolute - as
in fact The Absolute Itself. Once avidya is removed there arise the
experience of the Atman's identity with Brahman. One becomes jivanmukti
- liberated while in the body - and after death attains Moksha, identity
with the Absolute.
Misunderstandings regarding the status of the World-process.
There has been a lot of misunderstanding regarding the status the
phenomenal world in Advaita, even by some of it's modern proponents.
According to this false interpretation which the universe is considered
nothing but illusion. Many people therefore reject Advaita as
"illusionism". But in fact Shankara was a staunch empiricist and fully
acknowledged the phenomenal reality of the world, God (Ishwara) etc. He
was actually very critical of the Yogachara Buddhist position that the
world is a subjective product of the mind). When Shankara discusses the
reality or otherwise of the world of duality, he is talking from the
point of view of his attainment of Enlightenment, according to which the
world-process really did appear unreal or false. But as far as the
ordinary consciousness goes, Advaita propounds pragmatic realism,
including worship of deities separate from oneself, etc.
Advaitin Metaphysics
Advaitin Metaphysics integrates the late Mandukya Upanishad, Samkhya,
and miscellaneous ideas around at the time.
state Vaisva Taijasa Prajna Turiya
usual translation/ interpretation gross reality subtle reality causal
reality "fourth"
(liberation)
state of consciousness waking dreaming dreamless sleep transcendence
kosha anna prana - manas - vijnana ananda Atma
(beyond all koshas)
deity Vaishvanara Hiranyagarbha Ishvara Nirguna Brahman
see The Mandukyopanishad with Gaudapada's Karika and Shankara's
Commentary (Sri Ramakrishna Ashram, Mysore, 1974)
Advaitin Soteriology
The Advaitin idea of enlightenment or liberation is based on a very
profound insight. Not "merging with God" (as is commonly misunderstood),
but becoming that Absolute. By becoming the Absolute you transcend the
cosmic order; you are no longer a finite being, but instead - or perhaps
I should say but also - the Absolute Reality, Atman-Brahman. The
boundaries of the self disappear, and the being becomes infinite.
from: http://www.kheper.net/topics/Vedanta/AdvaitaVedanta.htm
**
**
The Spiritual Bookstore Online World Religion Library
Visit the Online Store
|