#Advaita teachings

[compassionmattersmost]

Poem: No Finish Line at the Finish Line

We start the race with mind and heart aligned,To seek the truth that’s ever hard to find.The path is clear, the way seems oh so straight,Yet round and round we go—oh, twist of fate! We run through hills of thought and streams of dreams,The finish line, not quite as near, it seems.With every step, we feel the final call,But then we find there is no end at all. The race we thought would bring us…

[ruth-t]

Spirit feels, ego thinks.

How could feelings ever be

wrong when they were

meant to be felt?

[loptrlab]

A New Perspective

There's NOTHING wrong with doing your own research after a beautiful invitation is extended. Your action and interest demonstrates honest and educated interest in their world. There by allowing your to choose.

“Out of the mud of your perceived fears, struggles, pain and confusion; the inner lotus flower of your heart will spontaneously grow.”   ~Anon I mus 

*Subscribe to Anon I mus Youtube channel @ https://www.youtube.com/user/SpirituallyAnonImus http://egoawarenessmovement.org

[nyxcreate]

OCD caused by Non Dualism (“seeking”) tips+

So I’ll be honest, I don’t really make posts about Non dualism because I don’t feel like I’ve understood it the way other people did. They’ve seemed to find this permanent bliss, that I stayed seeking for, FOR MONTHS, (more than 7 months) and really just losing my mind. That non dual state of mind felt so good and I wanted it so bad! I’ve seen many tumblr asks with seekers and I’m sure there are many people who’ve just really understood it and resonated with it. I wanted to share my two cents on it, because I’m sure there other folks who could really use the advice instead of hearing “just NOTICE!!!”.

So please note, once again I won’t say anything bad about traditional non duality/Advaita Vedanta. I’m merely speaking from my own experience, my own struggles and how I’ve really sort of overcome it. And if you’ve found the NOTHINGNESS and CONSCIOUSNESS, all props to you! Keep scrolling this isn’t for you!

—————————————————————

One thing I’ve come to realize later on is how much the mind watching was actually damaging, and not natural at all! It felt like i was looking into something- all the time, feeling the contractions in my body, trying to get rid of it. Naming everything. Trying not to name everything, or label. Trying to notice more. Trying to notice there wasn’t any labels! Trying to notice who was the one doing the noticing. Trying to notice that there was no one noticing. Hell even trying not to TRY. Reading posts, watching videos, hoping something would click. I know how this sounds, but sometimes I’d get excited when I was reaching my breaking point of noticing; because that’s when the bliss would return. So much that you can’t take it anymore; and all that’s left is that pretty empty state of mind that just feels soooo good!

Your world is at your feet, everyone is treating you with kindness. You’re treating everyone with so much love. Life can’t get any better. Until you’re hit with the sudden realization “how do i maintain this, what if I start seeking again?” and there you are; your “me” has returned. But every time it gets easier, doesn’t it? And every time; even if it gets easier, you’re wishing you never found Non Duality in the first place. Now how do I get rid of the “me” again . . .

I’m very done with non dualism. Funny thing is, I don’t even disagree with the non dual “experience”; because it’s just so true. The core of emptiness is there! But honestly, I’m so done with the teachings.

I never thought I would be able to say that I was done with this philosophy. I really thought it would be there in the back of my mind FOREVER. Doing backflips and whatnot to feel the emptiness, the bliss. But enough about that …

I’ve stopped with traditional non duality where it says “keep noticing!” “who’s the one noticing?” “the noticer and the noticed it one!” and realized; as Tony Parsons and Jim Newman and even Non duality fun on youtube had taught me, there is no one doing the noticing. The “radical” non dualism that traditional non dualists seem to hate has been a lifesaver. The pretty state of mind that you are searching for, the search may be there but there is no one doing the searching. If there is no one doing the searching, then what’s happening? It is OBVIOUSLY happening. I am DEFINITELY searching.

No, there is no one doing the searching. It just is. No reason for it at all.

Anyways, while I encourage everyone to look into radical non dualism; or Tony Parson and Jim Newman’s ways of teachings, I’ve also moved on from their lessons. I’ve learned to tackle the OCD by not listening to the compulsions, by no longer looking into the mind. And yes take it step by step, because I know how difficult it seems to just not listen to the compulsions. that would be my advice for sure. Start looking into radical non dualism and recognize that the seeker is just not there. There is no “higher” state of consciousness. The divide that you see between the “me” and the “consciousness; bliss” state; there is no divide at all. It’s all just happening. Once that’s been established; go ahead and live your life. If needed, later look into how you can treat your OCD.

…and again, non dualism has provided amazing insights that I’m forever grateful for. :) The challenges are nothing in comparison to the knowledge gained.

[goddessxeffect]

« INTRO: AWAKEN TO (YOUR)SELF »

A BEGINNERS GUIDE TO ALL THINGS CONSCIOUSNESS

This blog used to be a journal in the process of self realization of it's creator but has yet turned out to be a collection of sources and information guiding you too on your way back to your true Being. It all started with the question: “Who are you really?” and the realization that reality is not what it seems. I'm at a point now where I do not follow any teachings or concepts anymore nor did I consent in strictly deviding law of assumption from non dualism in the past. Nowadays, I see myself as an advocate for Self-realization. That being said, I really want to distance myself from any "new age manifestation/law of assumption" (do this to get xyz) teachings practised on youtube or tiktok.

I did create my own content in the past but stopped because there is nothing new to say and my understanding has deepened. Posts and annotations written by me are easily recognisable by my typical colour code, which is obviously displayed here. I only answer questions for understanding or clarification, guidelines here.

HOW TO START

Advaita Vendata (Non Dualism): an Introduction

Core of non dual understanding

If everything is consciousness, I am everything and everything is me? I still feel like "me", I don't feel like god of my reality How to become aware(ness) How to control the thoughts How to be free from emotions and thoughts Stop concerning yourself with the wants and needs of Ego How to loose attachment to Ego What you really are How to be Consciousness/ Awareness

In the end, the only question remaining should be who you are without all the labels attached to "I am". You will come to discover you do not want freedom from this shape alone, but from all shapes. Be aware of your past being over. "External world shows otherwise? Just be like "for how long do you think it can keep this up when you have nothing to do with it?" @Ada

MY CONTENT/ EPIPHANIES

You can experience pain in your life but you don’t have to ‘suffer’ the pain.”  - Anon I mus

#masterpost, #goddessawakening

» Mosaic » Be yourself first »"Manifesting" » Freedom » Being » Why everbody misinterprets Self concept » Is there a real difference? »Misidentification » Consciousness & Limitation » No others » Question Reality » Missing » Ego & Time

ADDITIONAL MATERIAL

... what to find on my blog through the tags

Advise/FAQs: Koda, Nova, iam-you, Cassie, Bry, Jag, Vesora, Lain, more What is Ego? How it feels to be Self / Awareness All on Self Realization and Detachment All on LOA trough a non dualistic view Books

If you still want to focus on "getting your desires" after been through all the info, search Neville Goddard (all his books and lectures). If you have a hard time understanding Neville, I advise some people who break down his teachings in a short and modern way of speaking: Edward Art (Reddit(Series), Audio), embodythestate, niclasupgradetolife, Josiah Brandt on YouTube

[ko-existing]

Do I not need to let anything (like ego) go? Don't I need to observe thoughts, leave my mind still? Why then did non-dualism here say this? I can no longer "like" the teachings of 4d Barbie or realisophie. I just need to deeply understand what you are saying?

Thank you for your patience and knowledge, from Vesora, Illuminated Mystic, and Reality Warpingg. Besides KnowYourSelf, are there other pointers? In fact, knowing more about your lives would be very interesting. Like when they said collecting cars. ♥️

Drop the idea that you have to let go of a so called "ego", there is NO ego. EVER.

You CAN watch thoughts if you want to but you don't NEED to. They have no existence by themselves, they are meaningless.

Like i said, "Non-Dualism" on Tumblr is layered with one limiting "rule/concept" after another. It has nothing to do anymore with the original pointer-philosophy Advaita Vedanta. (which is a CONCEPT too, remove it)

Do not stick to anyone's ""teachings"". All ""teachings"" are irrelevant on a deeper level, our words are meaningless too.

Don't keep seeking one "Pointer" or "Account" after another, it's an endless loop. YourHigherSelf is a good help/pointer but even his content is not something i 100% agree with though it doesn't matter.

About us

There's not much about our lives i want to share because of questions like "how did you do it, how did you manifest it, how long did it take, etc etc" . We are here to point, not talk about ourselves but it can happen that we share one or two things every now and then😆 Like mentioned before, Chen likes buying and collecting cars like they are pebbles. A (possibly) new thing we can mention now is that we don't worry about money or anything which you might have guessed from the "buying cars" part— we spend it freely like we want to on whatever we want🤷🏻 That's all

[lazyyogi]

On Effort and Effortlessness

In spirituality, there is often the question of effort versus effortlessness. Misunderstandings regarding the role of effort can lead to stagnation, confusion, or even deeper ignorance.

The teachings on effortlessness reflect the fundamental nature of reality, as no amount of effort can make the Real any more real than it already is—or make Divinity any more divine. These perspectives may be found in dzogchen and advaita. Sometimes this perspective is called the Ultimate or Absolute.

Whereas teachings on the effort required to overcome the momentum of our ignorant habits and self-based illusions speak to our relative experience in daily life. Such teachings and their respective practices are necessary for any tangible, real world results to free us from suffering. In contrast to Absolute teachings, these are called Relative teachings.

Both the Absolute and Relative teachings have important roles to play in spiritual practice but it is the relative level that shows us where to begin. Some spiritual seekers are tempted to fixate on Absolute teachings and ignore the Relative, which results in spiritual bypassing.

For instance, if the average person were instructed simply to let go and just be, the most likely result is that they would let their ego take the wheel. They would continue to be pushed around by their habitual compulsions, aversions, and perceptions. Because letting all that continue requires less effort than breaking free.

The reality is that our preferences, judgments, habits, and imaginations have controlled us all our lives—perhaps over many lives. And so it takes a wise application of effort in order to disrupt those cycles.

So what does that look like?

The most practical example is meditation. In the Jangama Dhyana technique that I practice and recommend, the instruction is to close your eyes and gently focus your attention on the space between your eyebrows. Do not repeat mantras, contemplate, or visualize anything.

Of course the moment you sit down to actually do this, seemingly endless thoughts and images will flow forth. Then you react to those thoughts, following them down trains of thinking. Before you know it, you have entirely forgotten that you are meditating.

It is here that effort is required.

Once you realize that you have wandered off in thought, you must shake it off and return your attention to the point of focus between your eyebrows.

For most beginners, this is how meditation sessions will play out for a while. You focus your attention between your eyebrows, you catch yourself wandering off in thought, and you bring your attention back to the point of focus.

You do this over and over, as often as necessary, while also remaining generally relaxed.

With daily practice and patience, eventually your attention will stop wandering off. Your attention will remain focused between your eyebrows even while you feel at ease. It will begin to feel more effortless and natural.

Thoughts may still pop up but by keeping your attention focused, those thoughts will also vanish instead of pulling you into further thinking. At this point there is nothing you need to do about thoughts popping up and vanishing, you just remain focused without analyzing.

It is around this point in your practice that you will get a real sense of what is meant by effortlessness. An entire separate post would be necessary to discuss that further, so I will leave it here.

To summarize, it is the application of effort in your spiritual practice that will lead to an understanding and experience of effortlessness. And with continued practice, the very notion of effort versus effortlessness will lose all meaning regardless. But until that point, you must be ready to put in effort.

Much love!

LY

[iamthat-iam]

my friend suffered from depersonalization-derealization disorder from nondualism. yes, she did let go of her body and ego but she became someone she didn’t know. she stopped seeing herself as “herself”. she stopped living life and completely felt well, depersonalized lol. her dissassociation led to anxiety jitters, numbness, emptiness, and an overall sense of loss and despair, and complete denial of her own existence. basically she felt dead and now learning and even hearing about nondualism is starting to trigger this. how do we prevent this?

yes ik we’re supposed to lose our body-mind and all that but depersonalization-derealization disorder is not fun lmao. i’m not saying this to “call out” nondualism, i love learning about non-dualism too but depersonalization disorder is dangerous and i definitely do not want depersonalization-derealization disorder.

And this is where people tend to misunderstand/ misinterpret Non Dualism/Advaita Vedanta.

We say there's nothing to do, and people take that to mean "stop living your life and stare at the ceiling all day." No one has said to put your life on hold.

There's no ego and no physical body here to let go of. I don't know what your friend did, but it sounds like she was fighting the illusion and trying to force change on to something that's not even really there. Trying too hard.

"Derealisation is a feeling, constantly questioning if you are real, if your surroundings are real. Derealisation is a feeling, doubting, getting scared, constantly questioning everything.

Now I KNOW I am all there is, the only one. Self Realisation is Confidence, Authority and knowing. When everything is YOU, then what is there to be scared of? When you Know no harm can come to you? It’s Freedom."- @i-amyou

"Derealisation leads to feel like everything even yourself is exterior and you're not part of it. ND teaches the opposite. It leads to oneness"- @cassandra-xx

These mental disorders make you feel SEPERATE from everything. Non Dualism teaches the opposite, everything is you, you are one with everything. Nothing is lost, everything is gained.

I recommend this post as well.

[mahayanapilgrim]

What is Yab-Yum?

Yab-yum is a symbolic representation of the union between a male deity (yab) and a female deity (yum). The term itself originates from Tibet, where the word "yab" represents the masculine aspect, often referred to as the Father associated with wisdom and compassion, and "yum" represents the divine feminine, embodying the role of the Mother often associated with bliss and emptiness.

In artistic depictions, yab-yum is represented by a male deity in a seated position, often portrayed as a peaceful and enlightened Buddha or a deity like Vajrasattva, and a female deity sitting or standing in the lap of the male deity, embracing him. The female deity is often portrayed as a compassionate figure, such as the goddess Tara or the consort of the male deity.

The Spiritual Symbolism of Yab-Yum

An iconic image associated with tantra, the yab-yum position holds significant prominence within both Hindu and Buddhist tantric art. The posture transcends the boundaries of conventional human sexuality and delves into a realm of divine and cosmic union. At its core, the image embodies the concept of duality, therefore represented through the masculine and feminine union but gives direction towards a state of non-duality, or Advaita, where the illusion of separation dissolves, and a profound unity is experienced. It represents the profound understanding that existence arises from the interplay of opposites and that the ultimate reality encompasses both the manifest and the formless.

The yab-yum position signifies the merging and harmonizing of opposing forces. It represents the balance and integration of polarities within oneself and the universe. The masculine and feminine energies are seen as complementary aspects that together form a complete whole. In essence, the yab-yum symbolizes the union of wisdom and compassion, form and formlessness, masculine and feminine, and represents the inherent unity and interconnectedness of all things in the tantric worldview. 

The fundamental concept of 'Advaita,' or non-duality within Yab-Yum

In Sanskrit, the term, advaita means non-duality. It is also a concept commonly associated with Advaita Vedanta but equally relevant in the profound teachings of tantra. To understand the concept of Advaita, one must carefully deconstruct the linguistic implication of the term Advaita or its English translation 'not-two-ness.' Here the words do not suggest becoming one or infusion; it does not imply a merging into homogeneity. Instead, it represents a state where separation, division, and the illusion of individual identity cease to exist while the diverse elements retain their inherent nature. It is a state of neither loss nor acquisition. 

This understanding eludes the grasp of the rational mind, which can only comprehend the world in terms of singularity or plurality. Therefore, the yab-yum depiction of the union of a male and female deity highlights the fundamental principle that the apparent duality between self and other, subject and object, is illusory. It alludes to the understanding that the true nature of reality transcends dualistic distinctions signifying the inseparability and interdependence of the masculine and feminine energies, symbolizing the dissolution of all dualities but not infusing into a singularity. 

Vajrasattva and his consort in Yab-Yum

Vajrasattva is the embodiment of purity and compassion and, in his solitary form, is a familiar subject in Buddhist art. However, although less frequently, Vajrasattva is depicted with his consort in the yab-yum posture, alluding to a profound father-mother aspect of Vajrasattva. In the Yab-Yum depiction, he is joined by his consort, Vajratopa or Vajragarvi. The consort is often depicted holding a Kartika in her right hand and a kapala in her left, symbolizing the transformative and nurturing aspects of the feminine principle.

[talonabraxas]

“Satyam Jnanam Anantam Brahma”

which means “The knower of “BRAHMAN” attains the Supreme”. BRAHMAN is Truth, knowledge, and Infinity, which is our own very Self, the Atman. Brahman is not an object of knowledge. It is always witnessing subject. (দ্রষ্টা~The Seer).

The Concept of Brahman in Vedas is Beyond any Concept of Absolute

First, let us analyze what Hindu Dharma holds to be the Absolute. In Sanskrit, the ultimate goal, or shall we say, the Absolute of Hindu Dharma, is “Brahman.” The word derives from the root “Brh,” meaning “that which grows” (Brhati) or “Which causes to grow” (Brhmayati).

The Nature of Brahman Brahman is rather considered to manifest the non-Brahman metaphysical principles of matters and jivas due to the overflowing of Brahman’s grandeur, beauty, bliss, and love than the primary coming into being with the non-Brahman metaphysical principles of matter.

Just as how Brahman exists, Brahman cannot but create an excess of good in a similar manner too. Both of these – existence and overflowing of abundance – are crucial properties of Brahman, just as love and nurturing are the crucial properties of any virtuous and loving mother.

Brahman – The Source Brahman constitutes the essential building of all reality, and thus Brahman is the source. Brahman is the antecedent primeval ontological substance from where all things move forward. Like other sciences, Brahman does not create anything from nothing as part of ex nihilo creation. But rather, Brahman creates anything from the reality of Brahman’s own being. In Aristotelian terms, Brahman is “the material cause as well as the efficient cause of creation.”

The Final Goal and The Final Cause Brahman is seen as the Formal Cause as part of the metaphysical ordering principles inherent in the cosmos’ design and as the source of Dharma.

Moreover, Brahman is also seen as the Final Cause, as the final goal of all reality. Brahman is the only reality that truly exists, as being the ontological source of all reality; everything else is just a contingent transformation of Brahman, or substitute of the attributive dependence on Brahman, or else the illusory in nature. Even the theological teachings of both Advaita and Vishishta-Advaita schools of Hindu Dharma resonate with this nature of Brahman.

Brahman – The Ultimate Reality As mentioned times and again, Brahman is the source of everything, and thus all reality has a source in Brahman. Everything grounds to Brahman, and all reality has its ultimate repose. Hindu Dharma, as a philosophy and a religion, is thriving towards this reality known as Brahman, both consciously and exclusively.

Brahman is like the foundation of everything. It’s the most real thing, even more (supreme reality), real than the world we see around us. It’s like the “big picture” behind everything. It’s important to note that Brahman isn’t a god with human-like qualities. It’s not a person sitting in the sky making decisions or having emotions. It’s much bigger and more mysterious than that.

Think of Brahman as being everywhere, but not in a way that’s limited by space. It’s like the essence or energy that makes everything exist and have meaning. This idea is called “panentheism,” meaning Brahman is both within everything and beyond everything. Brahman is like the starting point of everything in the universe. It’s not like a builder creating things from scratch, but more like the essential stuff that everything is made of.

Some people say that your true self or your individual soul (your “Atman��) is connected to Brahman. It’s like a small part of Brahman inside you, an eternal truth. This idea is important in a certain type of Hindu thinking called “Advaita Vedanta.” Many Hindus believe that understanding Brahman is a way to become free from the cycle of life, death, and rebirth. It’s like a key to escape this cycle and find ultimate peace.

Brahman ॐ by Talon Abraxas

[compassionmattersmost]

Comforting the Ego Through Self-Inquiry: A Gentle Path into the Mystic

The Tibetan teaching that the ego is a belief in a separate self with no inherent existence aligns perfectly with the process of self-inquiry. As we engage in the practice, the recognition that the ego has no independent reality allows it to gradually dissolve. What remains is the awareness that transcends the illusion of separation—the true nature of the Self. For many years, I’ve engaged in…

[seraphic555]

Raise your hand if you read a thousand posts on ND ✋🏼

Raise your hand if you asked a hundred questions about ND ✋🏼

Raise your hand if you tried to get desires from being enlightened ✋🏼

Raise your hand if you tried to control your mind ✋🏼

I did all this with the intent to “get my dream life” after some sort of “god powers” were unlocked, but I was just digging myself into a hole. That’s not the point of ACTUAL Advaita Vedanta, which is a philosophy that teaches Brahman is the only Reality.

I think those of us who grew up Christian conflate Brahman with the Biblical God so we have certain expectations of what God is (some sort of magical, humanoid entity when it’s actually invisible) and then we see ourselves as having to become that God in the flesh.

So there’s really nothing else to know about this philosophy except that this Brahman is the only Reality, yet we spend months reading posts on this app trying to find more information out of desperation until we realize we’re literally looking for a key that doesn’t exist. But hey some of us have to learn the hard way 🤷🏼‍♀️.

I forgot the blogger’s name but she said to “just be” and that’s the best advice I can give anyone who is obsessed. It means stop trying. You can believe in religion or believe in nothing at all, you can be rich or poor, happy or sad, either way life will go on and in the end it doesn’t matter. No one is better than you and you’re better than no one. No one is enlightened or non enlightened, we’re all the same. Stop overthinking now and get on with your life 🫶🏼 If you’re still very interested in AV I recommend researching the old masters.

[4dkellysworld]

hi! i feel kind of stuck in a cycle and i'm not sure how to break it ? basically, i try to go on with everyday life by just observing and not identifying with thoughts, but then i have this voice in my head that's like "if you know who you are, why do you still see things you dislike? change it right now... oh that's right, you can't!" now obviously i'm aware that's ego creeping in, but she's kind of right? in a way? like Ada and Sophie both said, "whatever IS instantly and undeniably is. if you still see what you don't like that's all the confirmation you need." and so i just don't know how to keep going after that, because everyone's like "there's nothing to do" but there gotta be something that i'm doing wrong otherwise i wouldn't be dreaming this dream. i might've over-consumed, i'm not sure, but i'm just really really tired of it all

You're focused too much on trying to change the dream and you're using that as your measure of "success" on this path. You haven't given any details on what else you've been doing so I can't really give you much direction there.

But, if you can't change things through doing nothing, or witnessing, then try something else. Change your thoughts, change your beliefs, let go of the limiting beliefs and change your mind about who you are and what your "life" or "reality" is about. Remember that everyone is only sharing their version or interpretation of truth but it might not entirely click with you because your path is uniquely yours alone, it's not going to be the same as others. Find what works for you. And how do you do that? By being your own scientist, practice, experiment, figure it out through your experiences, follow what resonates and trust in yourself.

I get the sense you've overconsumed information due to your confusion and I totally get it because I have fallen into this trap myself. Imo overconsumption of information and always looking for answers externally indicates a lack of trust in oneself. Try discarding everything you learned (except some core basics of whatever truly resonates with your heart) and then just practice and live through that for a while and whenever you have questions, go within and ask yourself them.

If you look through my asks, I've addressed the "there's nothing to do" idea before so I won't repeat it here. I recommend getting clear on what exact idealogy you trust in and are wanting to follow & live because "nothing to do" is not Advaita Vedanta/non-duality but Neo Advaita Vedanta. It's your choice but get clear on what school of thought you're in (and obviously stop following any sources of info that don't align with that) as it will reduce your confusion.

Also if you're going to consume information, then consider reading teachings from realized masters like Lester Levenson, Siddharameshwar Maharaj, Paul Brunton, Robert Adams instead of getting all your information from Tumblr. The resources are there in the Google drives if you're interested.

I'll end with this quote I read earlier today:

Whatever is for you will bring clarity, not confusion

Trust in what gives you clarity and resonates with the heart.

[illuminatedmysticc]

Non duality is becoming quite mainstream. Or was it always?

Non duality ( Advaita Vedanta) is a very old philosophy and has been around since forever look at the 60’s where it was everywhere and the kind of the catalyst of the Hippie movement in America

thanks to the likes of Alan Watts and others who was teaching Buddhism and the Philosophy in the USA

[omegaphilosophia]

The Philosophy of Advaita Vedanta

Advaita Vedanta is a non-dualistic school of Hindu philosophy that teaches that the ultimate reality, Brahman, is singular and that the individual self, Atman, is not separate from this ultimate reality. "Advaita" literally means "not two," indicating the core idea that Atman and Brahman are one and the same, and that any perception of duality (between self and world, subject and object) is an illusion.

Key Principles of Advaita Vedanta

Non-Duality (Advaita):

The central tenet of Advaita Vedanta is that there is only one ultimate reality, Brahman, which is infinite, formless, and beyond all distinctions. The apparent multiplicity of the world and separate selves (Atman) is considered Maya (illusion).

Atman (the individual self) is identical to Brahman. The idea that we are separate individuals with independent identities is an illusion caused by ignorance (Avidya).

Brahman:

Brahman is the universal, unchanging, infinite reality that underlies all existence. It is beyond time, space, and causality, and is the only true essence of everything.

Brahman is often described as Nirguna Brahman (Brahman without attributes), meaning it is formless, indescribable, and transcendent, but it can also be understood as Saguna Brahman (Brahman with attributes) when conceptualized as a personal God with qualities for devotional purposes.

Atman:

Atman refers to the inner self or soul, which is eternal and identical with Brahman. In Advaita Vedanta, realizing that one's true self (Atman) is Brahman is the goal of spiritual practice.

The ignorance (Avidya) of this fundamental identity between Atman and Brahman is what causes Samsara (the cycle of birth, death, and rebirth) and suffering.

Maya (Illusion):

The world of appearance, multiplicity, and individuality is called Maya. Maya is responsible for creating the illusion of separation and duality.

While the world appears real on a practical level (Vyavaharika), it is ultimately unreal on the absolute level (Paramarthika). Realizing the nature of Maya helps one see beyond the illusion to the true oneness of reality.

Avidya (Ignorance):

Avidya is the root cause of the human experience of duality and separation. It is the ignorance of the true nature of the self, leading to the mistaken belief in the individuality of the self (ego) and the reality of the material world.

Liberation, or Moksha, is attained through the removal of Avidya and the realization of one’s identity with Brahman.

Jnana Yoga (Path of Knowledge):

The primary method to attain liberation in Advaita Vedanta is Jnana Yoga, or the path of knowledge. This involves deep philosophical inquiry and meditation on the nature of the self, using teachings like "Tat Tvam Asi" ("You are That"), which emphasizes the unity of Atman and Brahman.

The study of Upanishads, Bhagavad Gita, and other scriptural texts is central to the pursuit of Jnana.

Liberation (Moksha):

Moksha is the realization of the oneness of Atman and Brahman, which frees one from the cycle of Samsara. It is the ultimate goal of human existence in Advaita Vedanta.

This liberation is not about going somewhere else or achieving something new, but about realizing what has always been true: that one's true nature is already infinite, eternal, and beyond duality.

Guru and Shravana, Manana, Nididhyasana:

A guru (spiritual teacher) plays a crucial role in guiding a disciple toward the realization of non-duality.

The traditional method of learning in Advaita Vedanta includes:

Shravana: Listening to the teachings of the scriptures.

Manana: Reflecting upon those teachings.

Nididhyasana: Deep meditation on the truth of the teachings, leading to the experiential realization of non-duality.

Advaita Vedanta and Other Philosophical Systems

Dvaita (Dualism): In contrast to Advaita's non-dualism, Dvaita Vedanta holds that the individual self (Atman) and the supreme being (Brahman) are eternally distinct. Dualistic schools argue for a personal relationship with God and a clear distinction between creator and creation.

Visishtadvaita (Qualified Non-Dualism): This school also sees unity in the universe but believes that individual souls and the material world are real parts of Brahman, distinct yet inseparably connected.

Buddhism: Although there are some similarities between Advaita Vedanta and Mahayana Buddhism (e.g., the idea of emptiness and the illusion of separateness), Buddhism rejects the concept of an eternal, unchanging self (Atman), which Advaita Vedanta upholds.

Advaita Vedanta is a profound philosophical system that focuses on realizing the ultimate oneness of all reality, transcending the illusion of duality. Through spiritual knowledge, self-inquiry, and meditation, one can awaken to the truth that the individual self (Atman) and the universal consciousness (Brahman) are not separate, leading to liberation from the cycle of birth and death.

[ko-existing]

Hi, how are you doing?

One of the things that I think has caused these discussions that we are seeing in the last few days (you know the ones) is people thinking that you don't want to answer clearly what the anons ask (as if you were hiding a secret) because your answers sometimes sound as "vague" and "confusing".

My question is: you can't answer in a more "specific" way because that would imply the use of more words and even the use of dual concepts. Then you would be against the philosophy that you yourselves are trying to teach. That's why you have to stick to explaining in the simplest and most objective way possible, being careful not to use dual concepts?

My question was probably very confusing 😅

I'll try to give an example: you say "drop all the labels, so you can find the only real thing: the 'Self' " and then an anon asks "ok, but how do I drop the labels?" and you respond "there is no how to, you just do it".

In this case, this answer was not clear enough, because the anon was probably expecting some kind of "method" on "how to", so he and other people who read the answer may think that you are refusing to answer. But what I see, in this example at least, is that there is no way to explain "how to drop the labels", the words are not enough to explain, and if you were to use more words, you would end up falling into duality, which is controversial, so you need to stick to responding in the "least dual way possible." Am I correct of viewing this way?

(Sorry if it's hard to understand my question, english not being my native language doesn't help much 🥲 feel free to not respond if you find too confusing)

I definitely understand what you're trying to ask or say and I kind of agree with it. [long text ahead]

Here's the thing, when I first stumbled across Advaita Vedanta, it was from Swami Sarvapriyananda

and I literally cannot answer "how do I go within" questions because it is not something that can be explained, just how your actual Being cannot be explained because words are limited. There is only a certain amount of things you can say but that's not even enough to explain it. If I called myself "Awareness™️", and "Awareness™️" only, on one hand it's a good hint to the direction of what I am but actually, it is not who I really(!) Am. Because what you are cannot be put into words and this whole "don't label this and that as good or bad" is just a hint(!!). A lot of people think that not labeling something is part of a method but it's not. What I always meant and have clarified as so, was that by not labeling something as good or bad you just see it as it is. You see it as something that is just happening nothing else and whatever is just happening is nothing but "You".

Those that say it's too "vague" or that are angry and then start ranting about how vague I am on other accounts, don't fully understand anything. Because when I learned about it from Swami Sarvapriyananda, I didn't ask how to go within or what to do next or how do I get my "desires" and everything. None of us ran from one account to another for weeks just to get the same answers. All it truly takes is yourself and people don't understand that. If I would post something like "this is a how to go within explanation" or whatever, I would be telling lies because there is no "how to" go within or even worse, "how to BE". You just are, you just are yourself, you just notice yourself. There is no explanation to it because it cannot be put into words and it's something a lot of people overlook. They think that I'm gatekeeping the truth or that I don't want to help. But if I would be gatekeeping the truth or if I didn't want to help then why the hell would I even make this account? Why would I even be here? The simple answer to why can't I just explain it is because there is literally no explanation. It is something you have to do by yourself and you have to notice by yourself. You can read as much as you want to. If you don't sit down with yourself and just notice your own being BY YOURSELF,

every single word you have ever read is useless. Because why are you reading if you're not using it

or pondering on it. What is the point in gathering endless amount of information without using it? That's something a lot of people don't notice that they are literally taking one post after another without even deeply taking in what is being said or sitting down and understanding what is being said and then notice it themselves. I cannot explain direct experience to you. Direct experience is just direct experience of yourself and it is something that you are always doing, you just have to notice that you are doing it. If you see someone trying to explain what direct experience or "how to go within" is

they're far from actuality because words are far from the truth. It is not something that can be put into words and it is not something that needs a manual. You cannot put rules or limitations like a how-to tutorial onto a direct experience it is, again, something you have to notice by yourself and if you are incapable of doing that (which is impossible by the way, you just think that you are incapable) then there's nothing I can do because pointers are pointers. Swami Sarvapriyananda, Rupert Spira, Being_is_IT, Realitywarpingg (no concepts), Robert Adams, Fred Davis, etc are just a few accounts + of course scriptures from Tibetan Buddhism and the actual(!) philosophy Advaita Vedanta (NOT Tumblr's version), none of them give you a how-to tutorial, none of them explain in detail how to do something.

They just give you hints because it is literally all that can be given.

You cannot explain direct experience, you cannot put it into words. I mean, think for a minute. If "THAT" experience and can really be put into words, don't you think that someone would have done it a long time ago? We did not come up with ND. A lot of people who are new to non-dualism think that non-dualism is something that originated from tumblr by previous large account and

it's some type of method to get your desires or whatever and that's false. It's an ancient l philosophy, not a tumblr trend. Honestly, it's just funny. The AV-philosophy is a hint to what you are and by knowing yourself there is nothing else that can be done because you are "Ultimate Reality", "Absolute Authority", "Infinite Beingness".

What else is there to get if "THAT" is all there is? :')