*Advaita Vedanta* is a school of Hindu philosophy that emphasizes the idea of non-duality, or the oneness of the individual soul (Atman) with the ultimate reality or cosmic consciousness (Brahman). The core teaching of Advaita Vedanta is that there is no real distinction between the self (Atman) and the divine (Brahman), and all experiences of individuality, duality, or separation are illusions (Maya) caused by ignorance (Avidya).
Key Concepts of Advaita Vedanta:
1. **Brahman**: The ultimate, unchanging reality that underlies all existence. It is pure consciousness, infinite, and beyond time and space.
2. **Atman**: The individual soul or self, which is identical to Brahman. Realizing this unity is the goal of human life.
3. **Maya**: The illusion or ignorance that creates the appearance of duality and separates individuals from realizing their oneness with Brahman.
4. **Moksha**: Liberation from the cycle of birth and death (samsara), achieved by realizing the truth of non-duality, where the individual soul recognizes its identity with Brahman.
Adi Shankaracharya's Role:
Adi Shankaracharya (8th century CE) is the key figure who systematized and popularized the Advaita Vedanta philosophy. He is credited with reviving Hinduism during a time when various heterodox systems like Buddhism and Jainism were spreading across India. Shankaracharya's contribution to Advaita Vedanta includes:
1. **Consolidation of Advaita Vedanta**: Shankaracharya established the philosophical foundation of Advaita by interpreting the Upanishads, Bhagavad Gita, and Brahma Sutras, which are the core texts of Vedanta. His commentaries are considered authoritative in the Advaita tradition.
2. *Philosophical Debate and Establishment of Monasteries**: Shankaracharya traveled across India, engaging in debates with scholars from other philosophical schools, like Buddhism and Mimamsa, establishing Advaita as a dominant tradition. He also founded several **mathas* (monastic centers) across India, which became centers of learning and spiritual practice, ensuring the survival and spread of Advaita Vedanta.
3. **Key Works**:
- **Commentaries**: His detailed commentaries on foundational texts, such as the Upanishads, Brahma Sutras, and Bhagavad Gita, laid out the philosophy of Advaita Vedanta in a structured and comprehensive manner.
- **Prakarana Granthas**: In addition to commentaries, Shankaracharya composed independent treatises like the "Vivekachudamani" and "Atma Bodha," which introduce seekers to the core concepts of Advaita.
- **Hymns and Stotras**: He also composed devotional hymns to gods like Shiva, Vishnu, and others, integrating devotion (bhakti) with the non-dualistic teachings of Advaita.
Shankaracharya’s efforts ensured that Advaita Vedanta became one of the most influential philosophies in Hinduism, providing a framework for spiritual liberation and the realization of the unity between the self and the cosmos.
16 сен 2024
