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

Last Updated: 19.06.2025 03:48

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

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.

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.

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?

Bhāti = illumination - consciousness

Priyam = Love.

Asti = being

Can you fly an American flag in the UK in your own private property there? What is the UK’s government stance on that? And if yes, do you also have to fly the UK flag or the American flag can fly solo?

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

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

Krishna sums the relationship up in two verses:-

What can you do if you are a full-grown adult, but never experienced being a child?