A Gnosticism v Advaita

 A

Great question — both Gnosticism and Advaita Vedānta are profound systems pointing toward transcendence, but they differ in their metaphysics, their attitude toward the world, and their methods of liberation. Here’s a breakdown:

1. Core View of Reality

• Gnosticism:
  
• The ultimate source is the ineffable, transcendent God — beyond being and non-being.
• The material world, however, is seen as a distortion or prison, created by a lower deity (the Demiurge).
• Salvation comes through gnosis (esoteric knowledge) of one’s divine origin and escape from material bondage.
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• Advaita Vedānta (Non-dual Vedānta):
  
• The only ultimate reality is Brahman — pure consciousness, infinite, eternal.
• The world (Māyā) is not evil, but illusory — it appears real but has no ultimate substance apart from Brahman.
• Liberation (mokṣa) comes through direct realization: Atman = Brahman.
• 
  

2. Attitude Toward the World

• Gnosticism: Negative — the cosmos is a trap; matter is the fall of spirit into imprisonment.
• Advaita: Neutral/illusory — the cosmos is neither good nor evil, but a projection of ignorance (avidyā). When ignorance dissolves, the world is recognized as Brahman itself.

3. Path to Liberation

• Gnosticism:
  
• Secret knowledge (gnosis) passed by enlightened teachers.
• Awakening to one’s inner divine spark, which belongs to the higher Pleroma (fullness).
• Escape from rebirth or cosmic entrapment.
• 
  
• Advaita:
  
• Study (śravaṇa), reflection (manana), and deep meditation (nididhyāsana).
• Dissolving ignorance through inquiry (Who am I?) and realization of non-duality.
• Liberation while living (jīvanmukti) is possible.
• 
  

4. Dualism vs. Non-Dualism

• Gnosticism: Fundamentally dualistic — sharp split between spirit and matter, good and evil, light and darkness.
• Advaita: Non-dual — no real division; apparent dualities collapse into the oneness of Brahman.

5. Symbolism

• Gnosticism:
  
• Dramatic mythologies: Sophia’s fall, Demiurge’s creation, souls trapped in matter.
• Strong narrative framework for explaining suffering and evil.
• 
  
• Advaita:
  
• Philosophical clarity: rope mistaken for a snake, waves and ocean, dream and waking.
• More emphasis on māyā as illusion, not evil.
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✅ In essence:

• Gnosticism: A path of escape from a hostile cosmos through secret knowledge.
• Advaita Vedānta: A path of realization that the cosmos and self are nothing but Brahman.

Would you like me to also map their similarities (e.g., divine spark vs. Atman, gnosis vs. jñāna) so you can see where they converge despite differences?