The Indian mystical philosophies and religions are concerned not so much with the manifest reality we see about us, but with the unmanifest Absolute Transcendent. What matters is simply the practical attainment of a state of this universal, transcendent, transpersonal existence. In that state, there is no difference between individual Self (Jiva) and God (Ishwara); there is only the qualityless Absolute (Nirguna Brahman)[1]. In short, they are not a mental or analytical philosophy as we understand the term in the West, but rather a conceptual system for guiding yogic practice, with the goal being the complete transcendence of embodied existence.
Perhaps the most important school of Indian spiritual philosophy, Advaita Vedanta originates from the writings of Gaudapada and Sankaracharya, who in turn were commentators on earlier scriptures such as the Brahma Sutra, the Bhagavad Gita, and the Upanishads. As with all Indian systems of thought, Advaita Vedanta is at the same time a school of philosophy, a religion, a theology and a doctrine of salvation
It’s basic premise is all that all that ultimately exists is the Absolute Reality, Nirguna Brahman (“Brahman without qualities”). The phenomenal world has empirical validity. But it has no absolute reality. It is ultimately maya - a magical show – and mithya - false (neither real nor unreal). All that exists is nothing but Brahman. One’s individual self is ultimately no different from Brahman, hence the importance given to the Upanishadic sayings “I am Brahman” and “that thou art”. It is only a sort of metaphysical ignorance (avidya) that prevents us from realising our true nature as one with the Absolute – as in fact The Absolute Itself. Once avidya is removed there arise the experience of the Atman’s identity with Brahman. One becomes jivanmukti - liberated while in the body – and after death attains Moksha, identity with the Absolute.
extra from wikipedia on the advaita vedanta
