ADVAITA VEDANTA
Sankara c. 700
With commentaries on Upanishads, the Gita, and the Brahmasutra (and possibly the author of other works)
Central positions:
1. Atman is Brahman, self is Brahman. (ÒThou art That,Ó ÒI am He,ÕÕ etc.)
2. Brahman is Sat (Being), Cit (Consciousness), and
Ananda (Bliss)Ñsacchidananda.
3. Brahman is non-dual (a-dvaita), both in being and
consciousness.
4. Consciousness is self-illumining (svaprakasa).
5. Appearances of things as distinct from Brahman are
illusions due to spiritual ignorance (a-vidya).
6. Advaita Vedanta is taught in the Upanishads,
Brahmasutra, the Gita, and so on.
7. It is impossible to explain the world (anirvacaniya)
from the perspective of Brahman; the best explanation (which starts from Saguna
Brahman, ÒBrahman with attributesÓ) holds only from the perspective of
Òspiritual ignoranceÓ (a-vidya).
8. Jivan-mukti is possible through a personÕs meeting
prerequisites (adhikara).
Strategy against adversaries:
Resist statements about what is real in any ultimate sense (to make room for ÒBrahmanÓ).
See also these web pages: (a)
Upanishadic views of Brahman and (b) the Advaita position on evil.