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

12.06.2025 16:06

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

Krishna sums the relationship up in two verses:-

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

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 is your worst experience in life?

Asti = being

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

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

Who is someone that inspires you?

Bhāti = illumination - consciousness

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:-

Priyam = Love.

Do you think a lot of sociopaths' parents kill themselves for having brought such disgusting evil into the world? How much shame and disgust must they carry?