Śaṅkara’s Metaphysics

Advaita Vedanta emphasizes Jīvanmukti, the idea that Mokṣa (freedom) liberation is achievable in this life in contrast to Indian philosophies that emphasize Videhamukti or Mokṣa after death. The school uses concepts such as Brahman, Ātman, Māya, Avidya, Meditation and others that are found in major Indian religious traditions, but interprets them in its own way. Advaita Vedanta is one of the most studied and most influential schools of Indian thought. Many scholars describe it as a form of monism others describe the Advaita philosophy as non-dualistic. Advaita influenced by various traditions and texts of Hindu philosophies such as Saṃkhya, Yoga, Nyāya, Vaiṣnavism, Śaivism, the Purāṇas, Āgamās as well as social movements such as the Bhakti movement beyond Hinduism, Advaita Vedanta interacted and developed with the other traditions of India such as Jainism and Buddhism