Logo

Can you explain the difference between God and atma according to the Bhagavad-Gita?

Last Updated: 17.06.2025 01:21

Can you explain the difference between God and atma according to the Bhagavad-Gita?

Visiṣṭhādvaita Vedānta - (Qualified non-duality) They are one but ontologically distinct, like a flower and its smell or like a picture and its pixels.

Dvaita Vedānta - (Duality) God and the individual Self are absolutely distinct and separate.

One may ask which of these three views is correct - well each school argues its case in depth and prolixity. The summary and take away information is that Param-ātma and jīvātma are intimately and inseparably related to each other and share three qualities:-

Can the belief of not worshipping Christ held by Jehovah's Witnesses be disproven using scripture alone?

Bhāti = illumination - consciousness

Priyam = Love.

So these verses affirm the identity of God and the Individual Self and there are three views according to the three major schools of Vedānta.

What are the potential economic consequences of the U.S. following Europe's lead on climate policies, as discussed in the article?

Asti = being

Advaita Vedānta - (Non-duality) God (Paramātma) and the individual Self (jīvātma) are one and the same = identical.

Krishna sums the relationship up in two verses:-

How would you advertise if you wanted to be a "tour guide" who can take you through the dark web while warning you what not to look at and not to click on?

Read also: