Advaita Vedanta is a prominent nondualist school within Hindu philosophy, asserting a fundamental unity between the individual soul, or Atman, and the ultimate reality, Brahman. This tradition teaches that liberation, known as moksha, is achieved through the realization of this inherent oneness. It posits that the state of being Atman/Brahman is one's true identity, a condition that is intrinsic to human existence. The philosophy emphasizes that no external
action can 'produce' this liberated state, as it is what one already is, a concept famously articulated by Swami Vivekananda, who stated that the Vedas do not show you Brahman, but rather help remove the veil that obscures this truth.
The Nature of Liberation (Moksha)
In Advaita Vedanta, the soteriological goal is to gain self-knowledge, understanding one's essence as Atman, which is pure awareness or witness-consciousness. This involves a complete comprehension of the real identity of the jivan-atman (individual living soul) as Brahman. This correct knowledge of Atman and Brahman is considered the attainment of Brahman itself, leading to immortality and liberation from suffering and samsara, the cycle of rebirth. Adi Shankara, a key figure in Advaita, stated that this liberation is achieved when one fully understands the identity of Atman and Brahman, a realization that destroys or nullifies 'avidya' (false knowledge).
Advaita Vedanta distinguishes its concept of liberation while living, called Jivanmukti, from Videhamukti, which refers to moksha from samsara after death in theistic sub-schools of Vedanta. The Atman-knowledge, which is the full awareness that everything is Brahman, is central to this liberation. This profound understanding is not merely an awareness *of* Brahman, but an awareness *that is* Brahman, a direct intuition that is free from mental constructs. The tradition holds that freedom is inseparable from the nature of the Atman, which is ever pure, ever perfect, and unchangeable, and that the idea of being bound is merely an illusion.
The Path of Jnana Yoga: Study and Practice
While Shankara sometimes took a subitist position, suggesting moksha is attained instantly upon understanding the mahavakyas (great sayings articulating the identity of Atman and Brahman), the Advaita tradition also emphasizes a gradual path of Jnana Yoga. This path involves a progression of study and training designed to realize one's true identity as Atman/Brahman. The contemporary Advaita tradition outlines that knowledge of Atman/Brahman is acquired gradually through 'svadhyaya', which is the study of the self and Vedic texts.
This path is structured into three stages of practice: 'sravana', 'manana', and 'nididhyasana'. 'Sravana' literally means hearing, where the student listens to and discusses the teachings of sages on the Upanishads and Advaita Vedanta, studying Vedantic texts like the Brahma Sutras with the guidance of a guru. 'Manana' involves thinking and contemplating these discussions and ideas, reflecting deeply on the teachings. Finally, 'nididhyasana' is the stage of meditation and introspection, aiming for the realization and conviction of these truths, leading to a state where thought and action, knowing and being, fuse. This threefold practice, though conceptual, is believed to eliminate both ignorance and conceptuality, revealing the pure, transparent nature of self-awareness. Critics of neo-Advaita emphasize that traditional Advaita Vedanta involves more than just self-inquiry, also encompassing self-restraint, textual studies, and ethical perfection, as described in classical texts like Shankara's 'Upadesasahasri' and the 'Vivekachudamani'.
Essential Qualities for the Advaita Student
Before embarking on the threefold practice, an Advaita student is expected to cultivate four essential qualities, known as 'sadhana-catustaya'. The first is 'Nityanitya vastu viveka', the ability to discriminate correctly between the eternal and real (nitya) and the apparently real, illusory, changing, and transitory (anitya). The second is 'Ihamutrartha phala bhoga viraga', which is the renunciation of all desires for sense pleasures in this world and other worlds, signifying a willingness to abandon anything that obstructs the pursuit of truth and self-knowledge.
The third quality is 'Samadi satka sampatti', a group of six virtues: 'Shama' (mental tranquility and focus), 'Dama' (self-restraint and temperance), 'Uparati' (dispassion and detachment from worldly desires), 'Titiksha' (endurance and patience in the face of opposites like heat and cold), 'Shraddha' (faith in the teacher and scriptural texts), and 'Samadhana' (contentedness and mental satisfaction). The final quality is 'Mumukshutva', an intense longing for freedom, liberation, and wisdom, driven by the quest for knowledge and understanding, making moksha the primary goal of life. These qualities prepare the student for the rigorous intellectual and meditative journey of Advaita Vedanta.
