What Is Advaita VedAnta?

The religious or theological philosophy which is known as advaita vedAnta, was first promulgated and taught by SankarAcArya and later on it was taught by his followers.
The Literal meaning of Advaita Vedenta is "non-dualism,". The word advaita refers to the name of the oldest in existence school of the vedAnta. The advaita school of thought of Vadenta bases itself on the concept of upanishads, which include the brahma-sUtras and the bhagavad-gItA.  The advaita school strongly asserts that the real, true and essential identity of the jIva, which means the individual self, is nothing other and nothing more than Brahman, which means the Supreme being, Itself.

The teaching of advaita vedenta follows from such upanishadic statements (or mahAvAkyas) as tat tvam asi and aham brahmAsmi. It is in this cardinal and fundamental principal and doctrine that the advaita school of thought differs from all other schools of thought of the vedAnta.

The main tenets and principles of the advaita school of thought are described in detail in the commentaries written by SankarAcArya. SankarAcArya was a famous philosopher who lived during the seventh - eighth centuries A.D. The followers of the Advaita Vendenta claim and asser that it is obvious that the basic of the teaching of this philosophy has a timeless quality to it. This quality makes this philosophy relevant to all human - kind in all times.