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Thread: Advaita Vedanta and Buddhism

  1. #11
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    Re: Advaita Vedanta and Buddhism

    Quote Originally Posted by Nirguna View Post
    Thank you for your insightful posts Jainarayan!
    You're welcome. Keep in mind however that these views are those of the writer and do not necessarily express those of more intelligent and educated individuals.
    śivasya hridayam viṣṇur viṣṇoscha hridayam śivaḥ

  2. Re: Advaita Vedanta and Buddhism

    You can approach the same realisation from two different directions. You can approach it via the direction of Buddhism (which is more based on faith in the practice of meditation and mindfullness and is hence termed relative truth), or you can approach it from Advaita (which is a more logical and intellectual explanation of reality and is hence termed ultimate truth). The two link up when you realise that there is no seperation and consequently no justification for the craving of one thing over another. Both approaches end with the cessation of craving and aversion as the causes of suffering. But Advaita goes further than than this, and points to the ultimate goal of all religions. That being the understanding than all that exists is awareness, and that reality and the self become manifest within that awareness. You can call it Brahman, Tao, ground of all being, God, whatever you like. It's all the same thing.

  3. #13
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    Re: Advaita Vedanta and Buddhism

    Quote Originally Posted by Nirguna View Post
    Namaste All,

    I'm sure that anybody here, who knows the basic teachings and concepts of Buddhism would find them very similar to Advaita.
    While they are very similar, of course they have their distinctions. To attain Moksha, one must let go the dualistic thinking, and embrace his/her own non-dual nature, whereas, to attain Nirvana, one must let go of the desires of the material world.
    The nature of reality in Advaita is satchidananda i.e existence-consciousness-bliss and non-dual. While reality in Buddhism is Shunya/emptiness.
    In Advaita, our true nature is the "Self", while in Buddhism it is the "no self"/anatman.
    However the two "selfs" are not referring to the same thing. The self in Buddhism is referred to the interaction of the five Skandhas, which is in fact "empty". So our nature is "no self".
    The True "Self" in Advaita i.e Atman, is the witness of all, the non-dual consciousness, which is not our notion of the "self" i.e BMI.
    Hence the Self of Advaita and the "no self" Buddhism are in fact, very similar, since both "Self" and anatman (no self) are distinct from the physical and emotional selfs.
    So, can it be possible, that Advaita and Buddhism are in essence the same? Can they be considered different paths leading to the same result?
    I would like to hear the opinions of this wise community.
    To understand finer intricacies of the Philosophy, one needs to study the commentaries of Shankara on the Upanishads. This can best be done with a good teacher who has command over sanskrit and Sanskrit grammer.
    To have just an over view the article
    http://ccbs.ntu.edu.tw/FULLTEXT/JR-AN/26715.htm
    is good enough

  4. #14

    Re: Advaita Vedanta and Buddhism

    they are the same, because they were both enlightened(adi shankara & buddha), but the same goes for krishnas upadesa & lao tzu's

    the ultimate reality; energy-Consciousness,
    Vedanta; Brahman/Atman
    Buddhism; Buddha-mind/ana-atman
    Krishna; the eternal invisible Nature
    Taoism; The Tao

    the obstacle; the Brain & senses
    Vedanta; the Ego
    Buddhism; the self
    Krishna; the world of appearance
    Taoism; distinctions

  5. #15

    Re: Advaita Vedanta and Buddhism

    Namaste All

    Sri Buddha was a great Muni͵ a worshippable Avataara Purusha. Buddhism is a dialectical explanation of Shakyamunis insights. We consider them on par with the Smriti texts like the Bhagavad Gita.

    Advaita is based on Upanishads the Sruthi. The Sruthi says͵ yo vai Bhooma Tad vai Sukham. Advaita tells us to lose our small individuality so that we become able to become the Bhooma͵ the infinite Splendorous one whose name is great glory (Tasya namah Mahad Yashah) . So at this point Advaita absolutely differs from the conclusions of Buddhism.

  6. #16

    Re: Advaita Vedanta and Buddhism

    Namaste
    There is nothing surprising that many of Sri Buddhas teachings echo the Upanishads. Thats why he is considered an Avataara Purusha. But on those points where he or his followers differ with the Sruthi͵ we prefer to go with the Sruthi rather than with Buddhism.

  7. #17
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    Re: Advaita Vedanta and Buddhism

    Quote Originally Posted by Nirguna View Post
    Namaste All,

    I'm sure that anybody here, who knows the basic teachings and concepts of Buddhism would find them very similar to Advaita.
    While they are very similar, of course they have their distinctions. To attain Moksha, one must let go the dualistic thinking, and embrace his/her own non-dual nature, whereas, to attain Nirvana, one must let go of the desires of the material world.
    The nature of reality in Advaita is satchidananda i.e existence-consciousness-bliss and non-dual. While reality in Buddhism is Shunya/emptiness.
    In Advaita, our true nature is the "Self", while in Buddhism it is the "no self"/anatman.
    However the two "selfs" are not referring to the same thing. The self in Buddhism is referred to the interaction of the five Skandhas, which is in fact "empty". So our nature is "no self".
    The True "Self" in Advaita i.e Atman, is the witness of all, the non-dual consciousness, which is not our notion of the "self" i.e BMI.
    Hence the Self of Advaita and the "no self" Buddhism are in fact, very similar, since both "Self" and anatman (no self) are distinct from the physical and emotional selfs.
    So, can it be possible, that Advaita and Buddhism are in essence the same? Can they be considered different paths leading to the same result?
    I would like to hear the opinions of this wise community.
    You are correct Advaita and Buddhism share the same ultimate reality but Buddha's no self doctrine is often misunderstood easily and I believe this has been the case after Buddha's time. Buddha's no self essentially means from my understanding is that there is no physical aggregate or gestalt entity like soul or atman but there is something beyond mind and matter beyond ordinary perceptual consciousness and he called that emptiness. Emptiness doesn't mean void or vacuum or anything devoid of all phenomenon. It is a underlying formless reality across the cosmos. But I don't think Brahman is the right word to match Buddha's definition because Brahman by definition expands but Buddha's emptiness is absolute unchanging eternal thing. And also don't get confused with the concept of dependent origination as according to Nagarjuna dependent origination is emptiness but I'm not quite convinced.

    If you want to know further read this book but you might read something different that what I posted here

    The Advaita Tradition in Indian Philosophy - A Study of Advaita in Buddhism, Vedanta and Kashmir Shaivism by Chandradhar Sharma
    Last edited by realdemigod; 07 December 2013 at 10:29 AM.
    ॐ महेश्वराय नमः

    || Om Namo Bhagavate Rudraya ||

    Hara Hara Mahadeva Shambo Shankara

  8. #18

    Re: Advaita Vedanta and Buddhism

    NamasTe hdf

    What is seems to boil down to, is either
    Objective nonduality, like in Buddhism.(the"there is no me" approach)
    & the subjective nonduality, like in Advaita,(" I am infinity" approach )
    "Names and forms are like bangles and braclets and Vishnu is like the Gold." - Adi Shankara

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