Advaita Vedanta facts for kids
Advaita Vedanta is a very old way of thinking in Hinduism. People who follow Advaita believe that their own soul, called the Atman, is not different from the biggest, most important reality in the universe, called Brahman.
The most famous Hindu philosopher who taught about Advaita Vedanta was Adi Shankara. He lived in India over a thousand years ago. His ideas are still very important today.
Contents
What is Advaita Vedanta?
The Idea of "Not Two"
Adi Shankara learned from ancient Hindu texts like the Vedas and Upanishads. He wrote many books explaining what these texts truly meant. He taught that the individual soul (Atman) is exactly the same as the Ultimate Reality (Brahman).
He said there is only one main truth or principle, which is Brahman. Everything else we see or experience is just a way that Brahman shows itself. Because he taught that there is only "one being" and "not two" separate things, his ideas became known as "Advaita." The word Advaita means "not two" (a = not, dvaita = two). His main message was simple: "Atman is Brahman."
Understanding Maya
Adi Shankara knew that people might wonder how their soul could be the same as the Ultimate Reality. They might ask, "If my soul is truly one with everything, why do I feel so separate?"
His answer was that we are not aware of our true self because we see the world through a kind of "filter." He called this filter maya, which means "illusion" in an ancient Indian language called Sanskrit. It's like looking through a dirty window; you can't see clearly.
Shankara explained that this maya makes us feel very separate from Brahman and from everything around us. It makes us think we are just small, individual people, not connected to the big universe.
Finding the Truth
Shankara suggested that the best way to find the truth is to try and clear your mind of all ignorant thoughts. He said people should be very good and think deeply about who they really are.
He believed that if someone did all these things, they would eventually realize that Brahman was inside them all along. They would understand that their own soul is truly one with the Ultimate Reality of the universe.
Images for kids
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Adi Shankara, the most prominent exponent of Advaita Vedānta tradition.
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A drop merging in the Ocean, an analogy for the Jivatman merging into Brahman
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Ramana Maharshi, the Indian sage who was widely regarded as a Jivanmukta
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(Vidyashankara temple) at Sringeri Sharada Peetham, Shringeri
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Gaudapada, one of the most important pre-Śaṅkara philosophers in Advaita tradition
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Mahatma Gandhi stated "I am an advaitist".
See also
In Spanish: Advaita para niños
