Advaita (Non-Duality) for Beginners – Series

What is Non-Duality? How to understand it? How is it relevant? What is the core message?
Without a Second, the Final Conclusion

Without a Second, the Final Conclusion

In previous discussion, it was shown that those who know not the truth, seeing themselves a separate entity from the whole, even if sincerely religious and God-believer — are…

Cause of Rebirth Reincarnation Samsara

What Happens if Die Ignorant (Why Rebirth)? – Part 44

In previous discussion, what happens to one who dies after realizing the ultimate truth (videhamukti). Student asks, “What happens to those who die without knowing the ultimate truth?“ “…

ideal seeker of spirituality-truth

What is an Ideal Seeker of Truth – Part 42

In previous discussion, we saw the role of prayers and rituals doesn’t contradict knowledge of oneself as the Whole. They both cultivate the mind but also serve as form…

Role of Prayers and Rituals – Part 41

Role of Prayers and Rituals – Part 41

In previous discussion, we debated a malformed conclusion that Absolute reality, being the substance of all-that-is, is somehow an experience to be obtained in the future. However our pupil’s…

Mystical Experience or Knowledge – Part 40

Mystical Experience or Knowledge – Part 40

In previous debate, it was suggested that everyone has already glimpsed wholeness. A feeling of home-coming. A sense of completeness. “I don’t want anything to be different right now”….

Emptiness-Nothingness-Void-Spiritual-Teaching-Buddhism

Fallacy of Nothingness Teaching – Part 39

Previous discussion reconciled God’s Will and individual’s free will. The next question was inevitable considering it’s wide-spread status. It’s to do with notion that existence is a void or…

Is the Universe a Part of God? Am I a Part? – Part 37

Is the Universe a Part of God? Am I a Part? – Part 37

The previous discussion demonstrated logically that Ishvara (God) can’t have any attributes of it’s own. Not even divine attributes like love, compassion, benevolence… as is often assumed. Why not?……

god-in-heaven-advaita-vedanta

All-Loving God in Heaven – Part 35

In previous discussion 34, it was shown as long as we think we are finite individuals — the vastness of the universe will dwarf us. The smallness a person…

ishvara-god-intelligence-of-universe-advaita-vedanta

Limitless Consciousness and God – Part 34

It was pointed out in conversation 33, that knowledge of One without a Second, is not meant to create indifference towards your daily world engagements. It’s not supposed to…

why-help-others-advaita-vedanta

If World is Mithya, Why Help Others? – Part 33

We explained in conversation 32 that Advaita Vedanta teachings are not tautology (useless repetitions). What is Advaita Vedanta? It’s a means of knowledge, through words, which reveals the absolute…

many-minds-antahkarana-one-consciousness-atman-brahman-satya-mithya-2

One Consciousness, Many Minds – Part 27

In previous part 26, a common assumption was corrected, “If one mind is liberated from the false notion of separateness, then all minds should also be liberated”. It was…

individual-mind-knowledge-understanding-ignorance-vedanta-advaita-avidya

Individual Mind, Individual Ignorance – Part 26

In previous part 25, we highlighted an important word “mithya”. Without fully understanding it, we can never reconcile Oneness and world of multiplicity. World is mithyā, a dependent reality….

impure-dirty-rajasic-tamasic-non-sattvic-mind-antahkarana-reflecting-consciousness-self-atman-brahman

Can Maya Affect Consciousness? – Part 25

In previous part 24, student thought maya and consciousness are two different entities. Teacher explained there is no question of two-ness. Just like the skill of singing is never…

maya-neti-neti-not-this-not-that-māyā-reality-status-nature

What is Ontological Status of Maya – Part 23

In previous part 22, we heard how maya’s veiling and projecting power works. They work in tandem. Veiling power (āvaraṇa-śakti) causes partial knowledge. For example, if we see the…

brahman-isvara-ishvara-with-maya-superimposes-projects-world-jagat

Maya’s Veiling and Projecting Power – Part 22

In previous part 21, we asked “What causes projection of ignorance?” The cause of ignorance is partial knowledge and the effect is partial ignorance or projection. Suppose I say…

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What Causes Projection or Ignorance? – Part 21

In previous part 20, we demonstrated how superimposition produces a genuine response in the world. Despite the value-neutral status of rope, the victim jumps in fear, mistaking it as…

man-jumps-fear-snake-rope-analogy-advaita-vedanta-superimposition-maya-projection

Reality of Maya’s Superimposition – Part 20

In previous part 19, we’ve established that a superimposition is when name-form is projected onto an unchanging base. For example… Ring has a name called “r-i-n-g”. It also has…

maya-superimposition-projection-over-existence-consciousness-brahman

How Maya Superimposes ‘On’ Existence – Part 19

In previous part 18, we’ve seen that even after knowledge of oneness takes place, the world doesn’t change it’s dualistic nature. Only the person’s relationship with the world changes….

creator-creation-analogy-advaita-vedanta-cause-effect-mithya

Creator and His Creation – Part 16

In previous part 15, we saw how different objects in the universe resolve into the One cause. Just how all furniture resolves into One wood. Meaning wood is the…