39. DIFFERING VIEWS IN ADVAITA TEXTS

D: We find differing views in the Advaita texts themselves. For example, I have learnt from the Pañcadaśī that the jīva is a reflection of consciousness in avidyā. In some other texts, Brahman delimited by avidyā is termed as jīva. Some works speak of the presence of multiple jīva-s. Some others say that there is only one jīva. What is the reason for such differing views?

A: Advaita philosophy, which stems from śāstra-s and is elucidated by Śaṅkarabhagavatpāda, has some variety just as the Ganges branches severally before merging with the ocean. However, all Advaitin-s agree that:

(Brahman is real, the world is unreal and the jīva is verily Brahman, and not different from It.)

Further, the followers of Bhagavatpāda are unanimous that jñāna alone is the cause of mokṣa.

The variations seen are in the description of the world, God and the individual self. The different views serve to cater to the requirements of aspirants of differing competence and temperament. To a highly competent and advanced aspirant, the eka-jīva-vāda (the view that there is only one jīva) is appealing. Difficulty may arise if others are also taught in the same fashion. So, for them, nānā-jīva-vāda (the view that there are many jīva-s) is presented. Sureśvarācārya has clarified, “By whatever method one gets the knowledge of the inner Self, that means should be considered proper. Such methods are several.”

★ ★ ★ ★