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

Last Updated: 03.07.2025 01:14

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

Priyam = Love.

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

Krishna sums the relationship up in two verses:-

Why do people mourn when their leaders lose elections? Is it common for people to cry over events that are out of their control?

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.

Asti = being

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:-

Are there any more 'nun' jokes?

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

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

Bhāti = illumination - consciousness

You found a love potion, and your friend tried to use it on an attractive popular girl, but he accidentally dropped it on the neighbors dog. Now the dog won't stop following him. How would you help him?

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