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Achintya Bheda Abheda
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Achintya-Bheda-Abheda is the philosophy of inconceivable one-ness and difference, in relation to the individual soul (jiva) and God (Krishna)[1] within the Gaudiya Vaishnava religious tradition. Achintya means 'inconceivable', bheda translates to 'difference', and abheda translates to 'one-ness'. The philosophy was taught by the movement's theological founder Chaitanya Mahaprabhu[2](1486 - 1534) and differentiates the Gaudiya tradition from the other Vaishnava Sampradayas.
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Historically within Hinduism there are two conflicting philosophies regarding the relationship between living beings (jiva or atma) and God (Ishvara, Brahman or Bhagavan). Advaita schools assert the monistic view that the individual soul and God are one and the same[3], whereas Dvaita schools give the dualistic argument that the individual soul and God are eternally separate[4]. The philosophy of Achintya-bheda-abheda includes elements of both viewpoints. The living soul is intrinsically linked with the Supreme Lord, and yet at the same time is not the same as God - the exact nature of this relationship being inconceivable to the human mind.
The theological tenet of achintya-bheda-abheda tattva reconciles the mystery that God is simultaneously "one with and different from His creation". In this sense Vaishnava theology is not pantheistic as in no way does it deny the separate existence of God (Vishnu) in His own personal form. However, at the same time, creation (or what is termed in Vaishnava theology as the 'cosmic manifestation') is never separated from God. He always exercises supreme control over his creation. Sometimes directly, but most of the time indirectly through his different potencies or energies (prakrti).
"One who knows God knows that the impersonal conception and personal conception are simultaneously present in everything and that there is no contradiction. Therefore Lord Caitanya established His sublime doctrine: acintya bheda-and-abheda-tattva -- simultaneous oneness and difference." (A. C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada)[5]
The analogy often used as an explanation in this context in the relationship between the Sun and the Sunshine.[6] For example both the sun and sunshine are part of the same reality, but there is a great difference between having a beam of sunshine in your room, to being in close proximaty to the sun itself. Qualitively both the sun and the sunshine are the same, but in terms of quantity they are very different. This analogy is applied to the living beings and God - the jiva being of a similar quality to the Supreme being, but not sharing the qualities to an infinite extent, as would the Personality of Godhead himself[7]. Thus there is a difference between the souls and the Supreme Lord.
The phrase is used as the chorus line in Kula Shaker's 1998 hit song Tattva. "Achintya-bheda-abheda-tattva".[8]
- Shuddhadvaita
- Vishishtadvaita
- Dvaitadvaita
- Hare Krishna
- Paramatma
- International Society for Krishna Consciousness
- ^ Kṛṣṇa Upaniṣad 1.25: ...na bhinnam. nā bhinnamābhirbhinno na vai vibhuḥ
- ^ Lord Chaitanya (krishna.com) "Lord Chaitanya taught that as spirit souls we are part of God and thus we are one with Him in quality, and yet at the same time we are also different from Him in quantity. This is called acintya-bheda-abheda-tattva, inconceivable, simultaneous oneness and difference."
- ^ The True Way of Advaita "This interpretation of the Upanishads, that the individual soul and God are one and the same, is what distinguishes advaita from other forms of Vedanta."
- ^ dvaita.org "Dvaita,... asserts that the difference between the individual soul or jiva, and the Creator, or Ishvara, is eternal and real"
- ^ Bhagavad Gita (As-it-Is) 7.8
- ^ Bhag-P 4.31.16 "One may be in the sunshine, but he is not on the sun itself."
- ^ CC Madhya-Lila.6.163 "Qualitatively the living entity and the Supreme Lord are one, but in quantity they are different"
- ^ Tattva lyrics "acintya bheda bheda tattva ... like the sun and the shine"
- God Is Both Personal and Impersonal (stephen-knapp.com)
- Caitanya Caritamrita M.6.163 (vedabase.net)
- Hinduism & Vaishnavism (veda.harekrsna.cz)
- Jaiva-Dharma, by Bhaktivinoda Thakur (bvml.org)