UNDERSTANDING THE PRINCIPLES OF ADVAITA VEDANTA
The principles of Advaita Vedanta, one of the most prominent schools of Hindu philosophy that stresses the concept of non-dualism, have the power to transform your life.
The philosophy of Advaita Vedanta originated in ancient India, and it remains an essential part of Indian spirituality and culture. The word Advaita is derived from two Sanskrit words – 'a' meaning not and 'dvaita' meaning dualism. Thus, Advaita Vedanta can be translated as the philosophy of non-dualism, which means the ultimate reality is not two, but one. This philosophy teaches that the self, or the individual soul, is the same as the universal soul, or Brahman.
The principles of Advaita Vedanta revolve around the concept of the ultimate reality, which is Brahman. According to this philosophy, Brahman is the highest truth, the source of everything that exists in the universe. It is the ultimate reality that is beyond space, time, and causation.
The individual self, or the soul, is also an essential part of Brahman, but it is limited by its identification with the body, mind, and senses. The aim of Advaita Vedanta is to help individuals realize their true nature as Brahman and transcend the limitations of the ego.
Advaita Vedanta emphasises the importance of self-inquiry or the process of questioning the nature of the self. Through self-inquiry, individuals can realize that their true self is not the limited, mortal body and mind, but the infinite, immortal Brahman.
Another crucial principle of Advaita Vedanta is the concept of Maya, which refers to the illusion of the world that arises due to ignorance. Maya is the force that creates the illusion of duality and separates the individual self from the universal self. It is through self-inquiry and knowledge that individuals can overcome Maya and realize their true nature as Brahman. In Advaita Vedanta, the ultimate goal of human life is to attain Moksha, or liberation from the cycle of birth and death. Moksha is achieved through the realisation of the non-dual nature of the self and Brahman. It is the ultimate state of freedom, where one transcends the limitations of the ego and experiences the eternal bliss of Brahman.
