Monism and Dualism

UPANISHAD ELEVEN: MONISTIC THEISM

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What Are the Many Hindu Philosophies?

From ancient times, India's sages and philosophers have thought about the nature of reality. Out of their search have blossomed hundreds of schools of thought, all evolving from the rich soil of village Hinduism.

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How Do Monism and Dualism Differ?

To most monists, God is present in the world and part of time and evolution. He is creation itself, but not its creator. To most dualists, God is beyond the world and is timeless. He creates the cosmos but is not part of it.

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What View Combines Monism and Dualism?

Monists, from their mountaintop perspective, perceive a one reality in all things. Dualists, from the foothills, see God, souls and world as eternally separate. Monistic theism is the perfect combination of these two views.

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What Is the View of Monistic Theism?

Monistic theism is the union of monism and dualism. It says God is transcendent and immanent, eternal and temporal, Being and becoming, Creator and created, Absolute and relative, efficient and material cause.

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Is Monistic Theism Found in the Vedas?

Again and again in the Vedas and from satgurus we hear "Aham Brahmasmi," "I am God," and that God is both present in the world and beyond it. Taken together, these are clear statements of monistic theism.