Question

Which among the following is not a teaching of Shankaracharya?

• A. World is an illusion.
• B. Individual self, Atma, and Brahma are different.
• C. Merging Atma with the Brahma leads to liberation.
• D. Liberation can be obtained only by the true knowledge of Brahma.

Answer 1

The correct option is B Individual self, Atma, and Brahma are different.

Shankaracharya believed that the entire world was an illusion or Maya and that Brahma was the only truth. Shankaracharya also states that both the individual self, Atma, and Brahma are the same. He says that we should ultimately strive to merge our Atma with the Brahma in order to achieve liberation. This was the essence of Shankaracharya's Adwaita philosophy.