I'm new to this forum...any Advaitins here?

[CantGetFooledAgain]

Just curious, would like to know if any DU'ers are on this path and if so, what have you been reading/thinking/doing (or "non-doing" as the case may be...)

[ayeshahaqqiqa]

1. Not of that path

but I would like to know more about it, if you don't mine.

[CantGetFooledAgain]

5. Of course!

Advaita originated in ancient Hindu scriptures, it translates as "not-two" and is also commonly known as "non-dualism".

I'd like to try to explain it, but my knowledge is really quite superficial and I think I'm going to recommend the Wikipedia article instead.:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Advaita

I've done a lot of reading of popular "New Age" authors such as Eckhart Tolle, who are really putting forward a kind of 21st Century Advaita. It really all boils down to spiritual enlightenment, some kind of realization about the identity of God and the Self, and the true nature of reality.

I was raised in a non-religious family, which may explain why I have been drawn to this. I appreciate its "purity" and lack of ritual and dogmatic elements.

Ultimately, I don't think that Advaita is really so different from the various forms of Buddhism, or Taoism, or the more mystical expressions of Christianity. All are seeking some sort of knowledge, or shedding of ignorance, resulting in union with God or the Absolute, or realization of the identity of the Self with the Absolute.

[ayeshahaqqiqa]

7. Ah! The Upanishads

I am a universal Sufi initiate, and I would say our paths are similar. As a minister in the Universal Worship, I have read the Upanishads and often read from that Book during the Worship ceremony.

Thank you for the link and for the information.

[More Than A Feeling]

8. I'm another who found faith after being raised in a non-religious family

Welcome aboard!:-)

[manic expression]

10. I knew I heard of it before somewhere!

Advaita, founded by Shankaracharya.

It is really another Hindu school of thought, and there are many, many others that all are a part of Sanatana Dharma (Hinduism).

If you look at Advaita and another Hindu philosophy, say Vishishta Advaita, the basic ideas are pretty much the same. However, I agree with the Advaita view more than the Vishishta one, but it must be said that I also agree with the Vaisheshika view as well. It's all the same, like five blind men touching an elephant, the same thing can appear quite different to people with different perceptions (how many lines can one make from the outside of a circle to the center? Infinite. They all find their way to the same truth through different paths).

However, you do know that followers of Advaita are no different from other Hindus, right?

[CantGetFooledAgain]

11. To be honest, I'm not clear on where Advaita fits into the

Hindu tradition. I studied it some in school, but that was a long time ago. I guess that my main interest now is truth-realization itself, as opposed to the study of religion.

I do understand and agree about the "elephant", so instead of delving into the scriptures themselves I try to find their meaning reflected in the words of more modern sages like Ramana Maharshi, or current day Western writers like Tony Parsons or Eckhart Tolle. I think that Plato wrote about non-dual reality, for example in the cave allegory in The Republic. Probably I used the term Advaita much too loosely.

Thank you for responding to my post. I've been so wrapped up in the political discussions at DU that it seemed like it might be interesting for a change to talk about some of my other interests with the many brilliant people here!

[madeline_con]

2. There is a philosophy and religion forum.

If that's what Advaitins are sort of a part of. (??)

[Jackpine Radical]

3. A beautiful system, a sort of revitalized Hindusim...

http://www.advaitin.com/

I'm sort of a generic pagan, but I recognize close ties between the "deep grammar" of Hindusim and my own non-Christian western traditions. These ties are historical as well as philosophical, in that Hinduism and European paganism share roots in Indo-European pre-history.

[longship]

4. Sorry, I don't believe in UFOs.

Just kiddin'. I have no idea what an Advaitin is.

[CantGetFooledAgain]

6. Kind of like a Romulan (n/t)

[jcldragon]

9. I'm not exactly definable by any Tradition

But, I've been into this sort of study & practice, since 1967 in this incarnation, (I'm 54). I employ both dualistic & non-dualistic thinking depending upon what I happen to be doing or explaining. I suspect you'll enjoy much of what's on my website, The Dragon's Den.

http://www.jamesclairlewis.com

Everything there is written from my own practical experience in these matters, and not from mere book-knowledge. All of the techniques have been tested & yield the results stated.

[CantGetFooledAgain]

12. Thanks for the link...

Very interesting site, I look forward to reading more.