There are differing views about Brahman in Indian theology. The Advaitavādis claim that the only real existent is quality-less, formless Brahman. Both Śrī Vaiṣṇavas and the followers of Śrī Madhvācārya reject that such type of Brahman exists. In their view, whenever the scriptures mention tattva or real existent […]
As we examined in a previous article, the concept of mithyā in Advaita-vāda must be properly understood and represented. As a reminder, mithyā means sat-asat-bhinnam or “neither sat nor asat” Water seen in a mirage is neither sat nor asat. It is not asat like a son of […]
It is very common to come across triumphant pronouncements in some modern Vaiṣṇava sects of how their gurus have refuted Advaita-vāda comprehensively. Yet a closer examination reveals that these sects do not have a clear understanding of even basic concepts of Advaita-vāda. More often than not, these sects […]
The first verse of a book is generally important in establishing its meaning. There are six criteria for establishing the meaning of a book, out of which upakrama or introductory statements is the first one. The first verse of the Bhāgavatam, therefore, is of prime importance to anyone […]
In the Bhagavat Sandarbha, Śrī Jīva Goswami does an extensive and relentless analysis of the relationship between Brahman and Bhagavān. The advaitavādis claim that Bhagavān is nothing but Brahman delimited by māyā. Bhagavān according them is vyavahārika reality, and not pāramārthika reality. That is, the ultimate and only […]
We continue our discussion of Śrī Jīva Goswami’s commentary on the catuḥśloki in Anuchheda 96 of the Bhagavat Sandarbha. As discussed in a previous article, the four topics of the catuḥśloki are jñāna, vijñāna, bhakti and prema. The first of the catuḥśloki gives jñāna: aham evāsam evāgre nānyad yat sad-asat […]
The Advaitavādis reject the notion that the absolute truth has energies. As such, for them the material world does not exist, because the absolute truth, or Brahman is completely devoid of energies required for acting, for cognition and for experience. Śrī Jīva Goswami presents a logical argument derived […]
We now discuss the process of realizing Brahman.
There are differing views on Brahman and Bhagavān. There is one camp, particularly among some Vaiṣṇava sects, which tends to interpret all verses involving Brahman in the Purāṇas as Bhagavān. The camp of the Advaita-vadis considers Bhagavān as material, and only Brahman as the absolute reality. Sri Jiva […]
The Krishna Bhakti site 