DIAGRAM: Advaita’s Fullness and Buddhism’s Emptiness

1. Ontological Core

Advaita Vedānta — Pūrṇatā (Fullness)

Code

brahman = satyam + jñānam + anantam

= pūrṇam (complete, whole)

= ekam advitīyam (non‑dual)

Example: Awareness is limitless, unbounded, ever‑present. Nothing is outside it.

Buddhism — Śūnyatā (Emptiness)

Code

dharma-svabhāva = śūnya (empty of own-being)

sarva-dharmāḥ = anitya + duḥkha + anātma

pratītya-samutpāda = dependent origination

Example: A thought arises due to causes, has no inherent essence, and passes instantly.

2. Structure of Reality

Advaita

Code

nāmarūpa (names/forms) = mithyā

brahman = satya

pūrṇatā = reality is fullness, not lacking anything

Example: Wave is name-form; water alone is real. Reality is “full” like the ocean.

Buddhism

Code

skandhāḥ = śūnya

dharma-svabhāva = na vidyate (no essence)

śūnyatā = reality is empty of inherent existence

Example: Wave has no essence; it is only momentary conditions. Reality is “empty.”

3. Cognition & Awareness

Advaita

Code

chit (pure Awareness) = nitya, nirvikāra

vṛtti (thought) = kṣaṇika

saṃvedana = vṛtti-jñāna (object-awareness)

Example: “I hear a sound” = vṛtti; chit is the unchanging witness.

Buddhism

Code

vijñāna = kṣaṇika (momentary)

citta + cetasikāḥ = dharma-stream

na kaścit sākṣī (no witness-consciousness)

Example: Hearing arises as a moment of “śabda‑vijñāna” and ceases immediately.

4. Mental Training

Advaita (SCS)

Code

śama → dama → uparati → titikṣā → samādhāna

goal: antaḥkaraṇa-śuddhi → ātma-jñāna

Example: A distraction arises → śama notices → samādhāna stabilizes → teaching operates.

Yoga

Code

pratyāhāra → dhāraṇā → dhyāna → samādhi

goal: puruṣa-darśana → kaivalya

Example: Breath becomes the object → attention flows → mind stills → puruṣa shines.

Buddhism

Code

sati → anuprevena → vipassanā → nirvāṇa

goal: anattā-darśana → kleśa-kṣaya

Example: A sensation arises → sati notes → insight sees impermanence → clinging ends.

5. Ultimate Insight

Advaita — Pūrṇatā

Code

ahaṃ brahmāsmi

pūrṇo’ham (I am Fullness itself)

brahma-satyam, jagan-mithyā

Example: The seeker discovers: Awareness is whole, complete, lacking nothing.

Buddhism — Śūnyatā

Code

sarva-dharmāḥ śūnyāḥ

nairātmya-darśana

anitya + duḥkha + anātma

Example: The seeker discovers: All phenomena are empty of essence; no enduring Self exists.

6. Similarities (Śāstric & Succinct)

Code

• ubhayatra: nāmarūpa / dharmāḥ = anitya (impermanent)
• ubhayatra: rāga–dveṣa–moha = duḥkha-hetavaḥ (cause suffering)
• ubhayatra: viveka / vipassanā = prapañca-nivṛtti (end of mental proliferation)
• ubhayatra: mokṣa / nirvāṇa = kleśa-kṣaya (end of afflictions)

Example: Both traditions agree that clinging to phenomena causes suffering and must end.

7. Differences (Śāstric & Succinct)

Advaita

Code

pūrṇatā = brahma-svarūpa (Fullness is the nature of Reality)

chit = nitya-sākṣī (eternal witness)

ātman = satya (Self is real)

Buddhism

Code

śūnyatā = dharma-svabhāva-śūnyatā (emptiness of inherent nature)

vijñāna = kṣaṇika (momentary)

ātman = nāsti (no enduring Self)

Example: Advaita: Awareness is the one real, full, non-dual reality. Buddhism: Awareness is a momentary event with no underlying Self.

8. Final Diagram (One-Glance Summary)

Code

Advaita:   chit → pūrṇatā → ātma-jñāna → mokṣa

Yoga:      puruṣa → viveka → samādhi → kaivalya

Buddhism:  vijñāna → śūnyatā → vipassanā → nirvāṇa