Advaita Vedānta
The Encyclopedia of Philosophy of Religion November 16, 2021 DOI: 10.1002/9781119009924.eopr0003 (opens in new tab)
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AI-extracted from the abstract| Characteristics | Theoretical or philosophical paper Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Key points | The entry presents Advaita Vedānta as articulating a radical nondualism, derived from the Upaniṣads, that identifies nonduality with the pure consciousness underlying individual subjectivity. It traces the tradition from Śaṅkara through later subschools and examines core issues such as brahman, ātman, consciousness, ignorance, and mokṣa, along with debates against rival South Asian philosophical traditions. |
Abstract
Advaita Vedānta articulates a philosophical position of radical nondualism derived from the texts of the Upaniṣads. This entry provides an overview of Advaita Vedānta's metaphysical identification of nonduality with the pure consciousness underlying individual subjectivity. It traces the development of the tradition from its early systematizer, Śaṅkarā, through its later iterations and subschools, and pays attention to key philosophical issues such as the nature of nonduality ( brahman ), the self ( ātman ), consciousness, ignorance, liberation ( mokṣa ), and contentions with rival South Asian philosophical traditions.