The status of the World from the perspective of Śaṁkara

Abstract

Śaṁkara ’s philosophy is called Advaita, in the sense that it looks for the non-dual character of the Ultimate Reality, Brahman. The main purpose of the Advaita of Śaṁkara is the realization of the identity of the soul with Brahman, which is also the means of liberation. Brahman and the world – the relationship between the two is a matter to be explained in the philosophy of Śaṁkara because in Śaṁkara’s Vedānta system Ultimate Reality Brahman is explained as one without second. Brahman being one without second is non-relational also as there is nothing to relate with. In this connection question arises that, if Brahman is the only reality then what the status of the world is. Moreover, if there is only one reality then how the cause-effect relation is to be explained. Thus in this paper an inquiry is to be made regarding the status of the world being an effect in relation to Brahman, the cause from the standpoint of Śaṁkara.