Comparative Map of Traditions
This map compares major traditions on selected themes. It is a sketch, not a final authority. Lineages differ internally.
| Category | Advaita | Buddhism | Kashmir Śaivism | Christian Mysticism |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ultimate reality | Brahman / pure consciousness | Emptiness, Buddha-nature (varies by school) | Śiva-consciousness as all manifestation | God / divine ground |
| Status of self | Ātman identical with Brahman | No permanent self (anātman) | Individual self as contraction of Śiva | Self transformed in union with God |
| Cause of suffering | Ignorance of true nature | Clinging, ignorance, craving | Forgetting recognition | Separation from God / sin |
| Liberation | Knowledge of non-duality | Awakening, cessation of clinging | Recognition (pratyabhijñā) | Union / theosis |
| Role of ethics | Important at relative level; varies by teacher | Central (precepts, compassion) | Integrated with practice; guru-dependent | Central (love of neighbor) |
| World | Often māyā or appearance (interpretations vary) | Empty, dependently arisen | Real manifestation of consciousness | Created, fallen, redeemed |
How to use this map
Section titled “How to use this map”- Compare without collapsing differences into slogans
- Notice what each path optimizes: insight, devotion, ethics, energy, surrender
- Let the map suggest practice, not declare winners
Related traditions and fields
Section titled “Related traditions and fields”Future articles may include Taoism, Sufism, Neoplatonism, contemporary teachers, integral theory, and psychology/neuroscience.