A

 A

• : The earliest Indian scriptures, the Vedas (c. 1500–1000 BCE), were primarily dualistic, focusing on rituals and deities. However, philosophical speculation in later Vedic texts began to question the nature of reality and the self1.

• : The Upanishads mark a turning point, introducing the foundational nondual concepts. They teach that the individual self (Atman) and the ultimate reality (Brahman) are fundamentally one. Famous Upanishadic statements like “Tat Tvam Asi” (“That Thou Art”) and “Aham Brahmasmi” (“I am Brahman”) express this unity234.

• :

  • Atman: The true, inner self or essence of an individual.

  • Brahman: The infinite, unchanging, universal reality.

  • The realization that Atman and Brahman are not separate is the core of nonduality in these texts253.

• : The term “Advaita” means “not two” or “nondual.” Advaita Vedanta is the school of Hindu philosophy that most systematically develops nonduality, asserting that only Brahman is real, and the world of multiplicity is an illusion (maya)534.

• :

  • Upanishads: The philosophical basis.

  • Brahma Sutras: Systematic treatise on Vedanta philosophy.

  • Bhagavad Gita: Integrates nondual insights with practical spirituality4.

• :

  • Gaudapada (6th–7th century CE): Wrote influential commentaries on the Mandukya Upanishad, introducing the doctrine of “no origination” (ajātivāda), which holds that the world is ultimately unreal and only Brahman is real. He drew on both Upanishadic and Buddhist ideas6.

  • Adi Shankara (8th century CE): Consolidated Advaita Vedanta, writing commentaries and treatises that clarified and spread nondual philosophy. He emphasized that liberation (moksha) comes from realizing the identity of Atman and Brahman, transcending all dualities234.

• :

  • The phenomenal world is maya (illusion); only Brahman is truly real.

  • The individual self (jivatman) is not different from Brahman; ignorance (avidya) causes the illusion of separateness.

  • Liberation is achieved through knowledge (jnana) and direct realization of nonduality534.

• : Self-inquiry, meditation, and study of scriptures are central to realizing nonduality.

Period/Source	Key Development	Notes
Vedic Period	Early dualistic worldview	Rituals, deities, beginnings of speculation
Upanishads	Atman-Brahman unity, nondual statements	“Tat Tvam Asi”, “Aham Brahmasmi”
Mandukya Upanishad	Nondual interpretation by Gaudapada	Doctrine of “no origination”
Advaita Vedanta	Systematization by Adi Shankara	Nonduality as central doctrine

Nonduality in ancient Indian traditions originated with the philosophical insights of the Upanishads, which taught the essential unity of self and ultimate reality. Advaita Vedanta later systematized these teachings, emphasizing that only Brahman is real and all apparent dualities are illusory. This tradition, shaped by thinkers like Gaudapada and Adi Shankara, remains a cornerstone of Indian philosophy and spirituality253614.

1. https://scienceandnonduality.com/article/the-nondual-roots-of-indian-thought-and-religion/
2. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nondualism
3. https://hridaya-yoga.com/advaita-vedanta/
4. https://arunsingha.in/2024/10/06/advaita-vedanta-the-path-of-non-duality/
5. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Advaita_Vedanta
6. https://corespirit.com/articles/advaita-vedanta-hindu-nondualism-4vpwls
7. https://shop.irest.org/pages/nonduality
8. https://www.hinduwebsite.com/hinduism/h_advaita.asp
9. https://www.enlightened-spirituality.org/Nondual_Awakening_Source_and_Applications.html
10. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7e2E9tM7DEw
11. https://scienceandnonduality.com/article/nondualism-a-brief-history-of-a-timeless-concept/
12. https://www.ashramcuracao.com/nonduality
13. https://www.yesvedanta.com/introduction-to-advaita-vedanta-non-duality/
14. https://www.embodiedphilosophy.com/advaita-vedanta/
15. https://www.wisdomlib.org/concept/non-duality
16. https://innerspiritualawakening.com/advaita-vendanta-philosopy/
17. https://www.britannica.com/topic/Advaita-school-of-Hindu-philosophy
18. https://indianphilosophyblog.org/2023/05/21/experiencing-different-ultimate-unities/
19. https://www.britannica.com/summary/Advaita-school-of-Hindu-philosophy
20. https://deconstructingyourself.com/the-nondual-roots-of-indian-thought-and-religion.html