num_pages: 285
description: According to Advaita-Vedanta, God or Brahman is identical with the inner self (the Atman) of each person, while the rest of the world is nothing but objective illusion (maya). Shankara maintains that there are two primary levels of existence and knowledge: the higher knowledge that is Brahman itself, and the relative, limited knowledge, regarded as the very texture of the universe. Consequently, the task of a human being is to reach the absolute unity and the reality of Brahman--in other words, to reach the innermost self within his or her own being, discarding on the way all temporary characteristics and attributes.
language: English
title: Shankara and Indian Philosophy
titlecomplete: Shankara and Indian Philosophy (Suny Series in Religious Studies)
ratings_count: 5
publisher: State Univ of New York Pr