Q. Compare
Shankarachaya and Sri Aurobindo’s interpretation of ‘Tat TvamAsi’
Shankaracharya and Sri
Aurobindo, two towering figures in the history of Indian philosophy and
spirituality, each provide their own profound interpretations of the famous
Upanishadic declaration "Tat Tvam Asi" (That Thou Art). While both of
these thinkers are deeply rooted in the tradition of Vedanta, their
philosophical systems diverge in significant ways, offering distinct
interpretations of this central concept. The phrase "Tat Tvam Asi,"
found in the Chandogya Upanishad, is often translated as "That Thou
Art" or "You are That," indicating the essential identity
between the individual soul (Atman) and the ultimate reality (Brahman). To
explore how Shankaracharya and Sri Aurobindo interpret this phrase, one must
examine their respective understandings of reality, consciousness, and
liberation.
Shankaracharya's
Interpretation: Non-Dualism and Absolute Identity
Shankaracharya (Adi
Shankaracharya), the 8th-century philosopher and theologian, is renowned for
his system of Advaita Vedanta, or non-dualism. His interpretation of "Tat
Tvam Asi" is grounded in the central idea of Advaita, which posits that the
ultimate reality, Brahman, is a singular, formless, and infinite consciousness,
and that the apparent multiplicity of the world is an illusion (Maya).
According to Shankaracharya, the individual self (Atman) is ultimately not
different from Brahman. This identity is realized through the direct experience
of self-awareness, which transcends the dualistic separation between the
individual and the universe.
In his commentary on the
Chandogya Upanishad, Shankaracharya explains "Tat Tvam Asi" as a
statement of the absolute identity between the individual soul (Atman) and the
supreme reality (Brahman). He emphasizes that this identity is not conceptual
or intellectual but is realized through the direct experience of the self. For
Shankaracharya, the apparent differences between the self and the world are the
result of ignorance (Avidya), which causes the soul to perceive the world
through the lens of duality. The realization of "Tat Tvam Asi"
involves overcoming this ignorance and recognizing that the Atman is not
distinct from Brahman.
Shankaracharya's
interpretation of this phrase hinges on his central tenet of non-duality. In
his view, the distinction between the self (Atman) and Brahman is only
apparent, not real. The true nature of the self is pure consciousness
(Brahman), and when an individual realizes this identity, they attain
liberation (Moksha), which is freedom from the cycle of birth and death
(Samsara). This liberation is not the result of any external action but is the
realization of one’s own true nature as non-dual consciousness. Thus, "Tat
Tvam Asi" is the ultimate realization of one's identity with the infinite,
formless, and eternal Brahman.
Sri Aurobindo's
Interpretation: Integral Unity and Evolutionary Consciousness
In contrast to
Shankaracharya, Sri Aurobindo (1872–1950), a philosopher, yogi, and poet,
offers a radically different interpretation of "Tat Tvam Asi." While
deeply influenced by Vedanta, Aurobindo’s philosophy incorporates elements of
modern science, evolution, and a more expansive view of spiritual realization.
His system, known as Integral Yoga, suggests that the ultimate reality is not
merely an abstract, static consciousness but is an evolving, dynamic force that
manifests through the entire cosmos.
Sri Aurobindo views
"Tat Tvam Asi" as an expression of the essential unity of the
individual soul and the Divine, but with an important twist. Rather than seeing
the individual soul as already identical with the Divine, Aurobindo proposes
that the individual self (Atman) is in the process of becoming fully divine
through an ongoing spiritual evolution. According to him, the phrase "Tat
Tvam Asi" implies that the individual is inherently divine, but this
divinity is not fully realized in the ordinary, limited human experience. The
realization of "Tat Tvam Asi" is therefore an aspirational process of
spiritual growth, involving the transformation of the entire being, including
the body, mind, and spirit, into a higher state of divine consciousness.
For Aurobindo, the key to
understanding "Tat Tvam Asi" lies in his concept of integral
consciousness, which involves the integration of all aspects of the self with
the Divine. Unlike Shankaracharya, who emphasizes the transcendence of the individual
self to realize its unity with Brahman, Aurobindo argues that the Divine is not
solely transcendent but is also immanent within the world and within the
individual. He posits that the Divine is both the source of the universe and
the force guiding its evolutionary progress. In this view, the human being is
not simply a separate, individual soul to be merged with the Absolute; instead,
the human being is a dynamic and evolving expression of the Divine, with the
potential to realize and manifest divine consciousness in all aspects of life.
Aurobindo’s
interpretation of "Tat Tvam Asi" also incorporates the idea of cosmic
evolution. He suggests that human beings are on a path of spiritual evolution,
which is guided by a divine force working within the individual and the
collective. This process involves the gradual awakening of higher states of
consciousness, culminating in a full realization of the divinity that is
present within each individual. Unlike Shankaracharya, who emphasizes the
illusory nature of the world (Maya) and the need for the individual to
transcend it, Aurobindo sees the material world as an expression of the Divine
that is undergoing a process of transformation. This transformation leads to
the eventual divinization of the individual and the world as a whole.
For Sri Aurobindo, the
realization of "Tat Tvam Asi" is not a sudden or absolute experience
but a gradual process of spiritual evolution. The ultimate goal of this process
is the realization of the divine in all aspects of existence, including the
physical, mental, and spiritual realms. This is not merely a personal
liberation from the cycle of birth and death (Samsara), but the realization of
a divine life on earth, where the individual and the collective manifest the
highest form of divine consciousness. Aurobindo’s vision is, therefore, a far
more expansive one than Shankaracharya’s, as it sees the entire cosmos as part
of a divine evolutionary process.
Comparative
Analysis
While both Shankaracharya
and Sri Aurobindo agree on the essential unity of the individual and the
Divine, their approaches to this realization diverge significantly.
Shankaracharya’s interpretation is rooted in the non-dualist (Advaita)
tradition, where the focus is on the ultimate, unchanging identity of Atman and
Brahman. For Shankaracharya, the realization of "Tat Tvam Asi" is a
direct, experiential realization of one’s true nature as Brahman, transcending
the world of duality and illusion. This realization leads to liberation
(Moksha), which is the freedom from the cycle of birth and death, and the
individual soul merges with the absolute reality.
In contrast, Sri
Aurobindo’s interpretation emphasizes the process of spiritual evolution and
the immanence of the Divine in the world. He does not see the world as illusory
or something to be transcended, but rather as a field in which the Divine is
working to manifest itself through the process of evolution. For Aurobindo,
"Tat Tvam Asi" points to the potential for the individual to realize
their inherent divinity, but this realization is not an instantaneous or
absolute merging with the Divine. Instead, it is a gradual unfolding of divine
consciousness, where the individual not only realizes their identity with the
Divine but also participates in the divine transformation of the world.
Shankaracharya’s path is
one of renunciation and detachment from the world, emphasizing the
transcendence of the individual self to attain unity with the absolute. In
contrast, Aurobindo’s path is one of integral transformation, where the
individual is called to manifest the Divine in all aspects of life, including
the material world. This difference in approach reflects their broader
philosophical systems: Shankaracharya’s Advaita Vedanta stresses the primacy of
the transcendent, unchanging reality, while Aurobindo’s Integral Yoga
emphasizes the divine potential in both the transcendent and the immanent
dimensions of existence.
Conclusion
In summary,
Shankaracharya and Sri Aurobindo offer two distinct but complementary
interpretations of the Upanishadic phrase "Tat Tvam Asi."
Shankaracharya’s interpretation, rooted in Advaita Vedanta, emphasizes the
non-dual identity between the individual self and the supreme reality, and the
realization of this identity through the transcendence of ignorance and
illusion. In contrast, Sri Aurobindo’s interpretation is more expansive,
incorporating the idea of divine immanence and spiritual evolution, where the
individual not only realizes their unity with the Divine but also participates
in the divine transformation of the world. Both thinkers, while sharing a
common Vedantic heritage, offer unique perspectives on the nature of the self,
the Divine, and the path to spiritual realization, with Shankaracharya
emphasizing liberation through transcendence, and Aurobindo focusing on the
divine transformation of life itself.
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