2006-07-29 15:48:54 · 5 answers · asked by cory55355 2 in Arts & Humanities ➔ Philosophy
The word "Advaita" essentially refers to the identity of the Self (Atman) and the Whole (Brahman). The key source texts for all schools of Vedānta are the Prasthanatrayi– the canonical texts consisting of the Upanishads, the Bhagavad Gita and the Brahma Sutras.
Adi Shankara was the first in its tradition to consolidate the siddhānta (system) of Advaita Vedanta.
His philosophy is:
Brahma satyaṃ jagat mithyā, jīvo brahmaiva nāparah (Sanskrit)
Meaning: Brahman(is the signifying name given to the concept of the unchanging, infinite, immanent and transcendent reality that is the Divine Ground of all being in this universe.) is the only truth, the world is unreal, and there is ultimately no difference between Brahman and individual self.
Advaita Vedanta is based on sastra(scriptures), yukti (reason) and anubhava (experience), and aided by karmas (spiritual practices). This philosophy provides a clear-cut way of life to be followed. Starting from childhood, when learning has to start, the philosophy has to be realised in practice throughout one's life even upto death. This is the reason why this philosophy is called an experiential philosophy,
The swan is an important motif in Advaita Vedanta. Its symbolic meanings are: firstly, the swan is called hamsa in Sanskrit (which becomes hamso if the first letter in the next word is /h/). Upon repeating this hamso indefinitely, it becomes so-aham, meaning, "I am That". Secondly, just as a swan lives in water but its feathers are not soiled by water, similarly a liberated Advaitin lives in this world full of maya but is untouched by its illusion.
2006-07-29 23:06:34 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 1⤋
Advaita-Vedanta:
sanskrit, Teaches that the manifest creation is made of one substance. Just as particle physicists have discovered that matter consists of continually moving fields of energy, so the sages (rishis), of Vedanta recognize that reality consists of energy in the form of consciousness (chit), and that human beings perceive a gross universe by means of gross senses
2006-07-29 15:53:22 · answer #2 · answered by cin_ann_43 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Sounds Sanskrit, maybe from Hinduism, Buddhism, Sikhism or Jainism.
2006-07-29 15:51:50 · answer #3 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
It is a sub-school of the Vendanta school of Hindu philosophy.
2006-07-29 15:54:00 · answer #4 · answered by kath68142 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Look at this site for a very comprehensive answer to your short question:
http://www.advaita-vedanta.org/avhp/
2006-07-29 15:54:37 · answer #5 · answered by LC 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋