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Here’s a comparative table outlining the primacy of consciousness in non-dual philosophies, divided between theistic and non-theistic traditions. The table summarizes their key views on consciousness, ultimate reality, and whether a personal God is involved.

Non-Dual Philosophies: Theistic vs Non-Theistic on Primacy of Consciousness

Feature / School	Theistic Non-Dual	Non-Theistic Non-Dual
Example Traditions	Advaita Vedanta (qualified), Kashmir Shaivism, Sufi non-dualism	Zen Buddhism, Madhyamaka (Nāgārjuna), Dzogchen, Yogacara
Ultimate Reality	Brahman / Shiva – infinite, conscious, and divine	Emptiness (Śūnyatā) or Pure Awareness – beyond concept
Consciousness as Fundamental	Yes – Consciousness is the substratum of all existence	Yes – Awareness is fundamental, but non-personal
Self or Ātman	Real and identical with Brahman (Advaita)	No-self (Anātman); self is an illusion
Role of God	Personal or impersonal God is real and identical with Self	God is not central; reality is impersonal
Nature of Liberation (Moksha/Nirvana)	Realization of one’s identity with God-consciousness	Realization of non-duality, free from ego/self-concepts
View on World Appearance	World is Māyā – real only in relation to Brahman	World is empty of inherent existence, a dependently-arising illusion
Cosmic Intelligence	Yes – Ishvara/Shiva as intelligent source	No external divine intelligence; emptiness is not a creator
Practice Focus	Self-inquiry, devotion (bhakti), non-dual worship	Meditation, mindfulness, deconstruction of concepts
Core Statement	“I am That (Tat Tvam Asi)” – Self is Brahman	“Form is emptiness, emptiness is form” (Heart Sutra)

Summary Insights:

• Both affirm consciousness as central, but differ on whether it is divine and personal (theistic) or impersonal and empty (non-theistic).
• Theistic systems affirm God = Consciousness = Self, while non-theistic systems often reject a permanent self altogether.
• Despite differences, both point to direct realization as the means to liberation, transcending dualistic perception.

Would you like this expanded to include Western non-dual parallels (e.g., Plotinus, Spinoza, German Idealism), or in relation to modern idealism (e.g., Bernardo Kastrup)?