Quick Answer
Advaita means "not two" (non-duality). It teaches that the individual self (Atman) and the ultimate reality (Brahma) are not separate. The concept emerged from the Upanishads, was systematised in the Brahma Sutras, and became widely known through Adi Shankaracharya in the 8th century CE, who established the school of Advaita Vedanta.
The Story
The roots of Advaita go back more than 2,500 years to the Upanishads, the philosophical portions of the Vedas. Ancient sages began asking deep questions:
- Who am I beyond the body and mind?
- What is the ultimate reality behind the changing world?
- Is there a connection between the self and the cosmos?
Here are some examples to understand this concept-
- A simple example often used is space inside a pot. When the pot breaks, the space was never truly separate from the vast space outside. Similarly, the individual self appears separate, but its essence is one with the infinite reality.
- Many waves rise on the surface of the ocean. Each wave has a different shape, size, and lifespan, so they appear separate. Yet every wave is nothing but water. When a wave settles, only the ocean remains. In the same way, individuals appear different, but their deepest essence is one reality.
- In a dream, you may see many people and places. They seem separate while the dream lasts, but all of them arise from one mind. Advaita uses a similar insight: the diversity we experience is grounded in a single underlying consciousness.
One famous declaration from the Chandogya Upanishad is "Tat Tvam Asi" ("That is you"). Another from the Brihadaranyaka Upanishad is "Aham Brahmasmi" - "I am Brahma." These statements suggested that the deepest essence of a person is identical with the universal reality.
Centuries later, the sage Badarayana composed the Brahma Sutras, which organised the teachings of the Upanishads. Different thinkers interpreted these sutras in various ways.
The most influential interpreter was Adi Shankaracharya. Travelling across Bharat, he debated scholars, wrote commentaries on the Upanishads, Bhagavad Gita, and Brahma Sutras, and established monasteries in the four corners of India. He taught that the world we experience is real at a practical level, but our perception of separation is caused by Avidya (ignorance). When true knowledge (Gyanyoga) arises, one realises the unity of Atman and Brahma.
Did You Know?
- The word Advaita comes from Sanskrit: "a" (not) + "dvaita" (two).
- Adi Shankaracharya is traditionally associated with the four mathas at Sringeri, Dwaraka, Puri, and Jyotirmath.
- Advaita is one of the major schools of Vedanta, alongside Vishishtadvaita and Dvaita.
Why It Matters
Advaita has influenced Indian philosophy, yoga, meditation, literature, and spiritual practice for centuries. Its message encourages:
- Inner peace by reducing attachment to ego.
- Compassion by seeing others as expressions of the same reality.
- Self-inquiry through questions such as "Who am I?"
Even modern thinkers and psychologists find value in its emphasis on awareness and the interconnectedness of life.
References
- Chandogya Upanishad: 6.8.7 (Tat Tvam Asi)
- Brihadaranyaka Upanishad: 1.4.10 (Aham Brahmasmi)
- Mandukya Upanishad: complete text on the nature of consciousness
- Brahma Sutras of Badarayana
- Bhagavad Gita: Chapters 2, 4, and 13
- Adi Shankaracharya: Commentaries on the Upanishads, Bhagavad Gita, and Brahma Sutras
