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.
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
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
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.
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.
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
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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