SANKHYA V ADVAITA

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The essential difference between Sāṅkhya and Advaita Vedānta lies in their understanding of reality, self, and ultimate liberation. Here's a concise comparison:

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🔹 1. Metaphysics (Reality)

Aspect	Sāṅkhya	Advaita Vedānta
Dualism or Non-dualism	Dualistic	Non-dualistic (Advaita)
Fundamental Realities	Two independent realities: Puruṣa (consciousness) and Prakṛti (matter)	One ultimate reality: Brahman (pure consciousness); the world and self are appearances (Māyā)
Nature of the World	Real and eternal (Prakṛti evolves into the world)	Ultimately unreal (illusion or Māyā)

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🔹 2. Concept of Self (Ātman)

Aspect	Sāṅkhya	Advaita Vedānta
Nature of Self	Puruṣa – many individual, passive conscious selves	Ātman = Brahman – One universal, active Self
Liberation (Moksha)	Realization of distinction between Puruṣa and Prakṛti	Realization of non-difference between Ātman and Brahman

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🔹 3. God (Īśvara)

Aspect	Sāṅkhya	Advaita Vedānta
Belief in God	Nontheistic (classical Sāṅkhya doesn't require God)	Accepts Īśvara as a manifestation of Brahman under Māyā

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🔹 4. Liberation (Moksha)

Sāṅkhya	Separation of Puruṣa from Prakṛti — realizing they are distinct
Advaita Vedānta	Realization that Ātman is Brahman — all duality is illusory

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🔹 5. Epistemology (Knowledge)

Aspect	Sāṅkhya	Advaita Vedānta
Means of Knowledge	Perception, inference, and reliable testimony	Same, but emphasizes scriptural revelation (śruti) more deeply

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Summary in One Line:

• Sāṅkhya: Reality is twofold – consciousness (Puruṣa) and matter (Prakṛti).

• Advaita: Only one reality – Brahman; all else is illusion.

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Let me know if you'd like this in a table or visual diagram!