In plain words
The universe is not somewhere outside; it is in us. Reflection of the inner being. It is just what is within that you are able to see outside. Outside there is nothing at all. Here, there, wherever you look, there is only One. Search anywhere: the Ātma is one. What is the reason? These five elements are one! I spoke of this very thing yesterday.
Bhāvādvaita, Karmādvaita, Vastu-advaita
Advaita is of three kinds. Bhāvādvaita, Karmādvaita, Vastu-advaita. Advaita is one, is it not? Why should it be of three kinds? We experience it in daily life in this Prakṛti. What is Bhāvādvaita? This is cloth. This is not cloth, it is a bundle of threads; not threads, cotton. So cotton, thread, cloth: the three are one! Its use, its form and name, appear distinct. Without cotton, thread could not come to be. Without thread, cloth could not come to be. So this is the Advaita of the object. This itself is the idea. Cotton is one idea, thread one idea. Cloth is one idea. But the substance in all of them is one! This they called Bhāva-advaita. This is a worldly Advaita. What is Kriyādvaita? Whatever karmas we perform, whatever kind of work we do, whatever service we take part in, when the one feeling comes, ‘Sarvakarma bhagavat prītyarthaṃ’, the feeling of offering, ‘I am doing all karmas to please God,’ then all karmas are one! You offered rice to God as naivedya. Before you offered it, it was rice. Once it has been offered to God, it is prasāda. You offered fruits to God. Before you offered them, they were fruits. But once the offering is made, it is prasāda. You offered sweet pongal, you offered tamarind rice; all this you offered to God as naivedya. But once offered, it is all prasāda! All that is offered to God is Kriyādvaita itself! Here there is no such thing as two at all. ‘Ekaṃ eva advitīyaṃ brahma.’ What is, is one, only one. That is Kriyādvaita. Now, the third is Padārtha-advaita. What is this? In this body, in that body, in all bodies, what is there is just the five elements!