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

Last Updated: 26.06.2025 08:51

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

Asti = being

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.

Bhāti = illumination - consciousness

You hold the door open for a lady and she stops in her tracks and screams at you, ‘Don’t hold the door for me! I’ll get it myself!’ What are your feelings or immediate reaction?

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:-

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

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

Is it true that most people in Québec are bilingual in French and English? If so, why do they often identify as monolingual?

Priyam = Love.

Krishna sums the relationship up in two verses:-

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

What is the most heartbreaking or sad love story that you ever had (experienced)?