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

Last Updated: 17.06.2025 10:05

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

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

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

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:-

How should you handle a situation where your friend tells you they like someone who also likes you? Should you tell them or continue as normal?

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.

Priyam = Love.

Asti = being

Why do a lot of women have a crush on my boyfriend when they know he is in a relationship with me? I am starting to feel insecure too. What should I do?

Krishna sums the relationship up in two verses:-

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

Bhāti = illumination - consciousness

If I only have a fire extinguisher to defend myself against some threat from people, should I spray them for max damage or just hit them with the fire extinguishers?