Bhāvādvaita
Bhāvādvaita · bhāva-advaita, “the oneness of things”
Grammar: neuter noun; a compound of bhāva (being, a thing that is) and advaita (non-duality, from a, not, and dvaita, twoness): “the non-duality of things”.
Meaning: the oneness of things: the vision in which the difference of effect and cause is seen to be unreal and to dissolve in the one principle that has no second. It is the first of the three advaitas of the ātmā.
In the scriptures: Nārada Maharshi teaches Yudhishṭhira that the sādhaka who reflects on the three advaitas of the ātmā, bhāvādvaita, kriyādvaita and dravyādvaita, removes by steadfastness in the ātmā the three “dreams”, waking, dream and sleep, or knower, knowledge and known, and stays in the ātma-tattva beyond them.
- Bhāvādvaita, the oneness of things: the difference we see is not real. The difference of effect and cause, like that of cloth and thread, is only seen, not real; it dissolves into the principle that has no second. This darśana is called bhāvādvaita.
- Kriyādvaita, the oneness of action: offering all the acts we do by mind, speech and body directly to Parabrahma.
- Dravyādvaita, the oneness of possessions: the view in which, in the matter of wealth and enjoyment, there is no difference of “mine” and “another’s” between oneself, one’s wife, children and relatives, and all other living beings.
(Bhāgavata Purāṇa, Skandha 7, Chapter 15)
Related terms: Advaita · Kriyādvaita · Dravyādvaita · Kārya · Kāraṇa · Ātma-tattva
Sources
- Bhāgavata Purāṇa, Skandha 7, Chapter 15