Who is an Advaitin?

Gan, Chennai

Swan Depicts the Soul in Advaita

The Swan Symbolizes 5 things in Advaita

1) Swan in Sanskrit is called Hamsa, becomes hamso, on repeating indefinitely
became Soham which means 'Oneness of human and the divine.'
2) Just as a swan lives in water but its feathers are not soiled by water, an
Advaitin lives in this world but is untouched by it.
3) Swan is symbolic of Wisdom, the capability of knowing the difference
between the real and the illusory, like a swan which is said to be able to extract
milk from a mixture of milk and water.
4) Swan (Hamsa) is the vahana of Goddess Saraswati, Goddess of Knowledge.
Swan is the symbol of Sattva Guna (purity and receptivity for knowledge). One
who is perfect in these qualities is called a 'Parama-hamsa'.
5) Swan's two wings represent wisdom and devotion – Gnana and Bhakti.
An Advaitin is beyond any specific qualities. He is like a space that can accommodate
everything. The irony is, to be beyond any quality itself puts him with some qualities, as
every normal individual is endowed with some qualities. To be devoid of such qualities
itself will put the Advaitin to have a different kind of qualities. The following passage
may contain some valid information as to who an Advaitin can be.

Qualities of an Advaitin Most likely

1. Mostly Equipoised and balanced.

2. Neither an Atheist nor a Theist. Believes in Oneness of existence as

Consciousness/Awareness.

3. Who witnesses everything including his own actions.

4. Does not run after Pleasure or run away from Pain. Prefers to stay in Peace, the
Neutral Point. Worldly joys and affairs offer nothing big to him.

5. Doesn't attribute too much Right & Wrong or Good & Bad to any action.

6. Detached but fulfills his responsibilities. Don't exhibit Love. No sense of doership.

7. Appearing Calm and somewhat Serious but smiling. No big emotions.

8. Talk Less, but more observing. Mostly silent. Prefers loneliness.

9. Does not attach himself to any Religion, Sect, Creed or Group. Not wearing any
specific symbols. No superstitions.

10. Not a follower of anybody. May admire people.

11. Behaves in a very Polite manner. Never Ruthless. Never Arrogant. Never Adamant.

12. Least Expecting. No big longings for Money, Pleasure, Power or Position.

13. Can easily get along in any situation.

14. Does not fear Death.

15. Has Least Ego. Consciousness replaces Ego. Speaking truth and asking excuses
become so easy.

16. Willing to help others with least expectations.

17. Accepts everyone as they are.

18. Doesn’t argue unnecessarily. Knows that perceptions always differ.

19. Gives respect to everyone’s feelings.

20. Behaves with utmost humility.

21. Nothing is so important and Nothing is least important for him. Everything is
dispensable.

22. Does not believe in Fate or Free Will. Everything is spontaneous, cohesive and single
existence for him.

I think I have such qualities. Hence, I may also imagine that other Advaitins may also
possess such qualities.
Pros and Cons of being an Advaitin
​

I am writing this out of my own experience and hence the following is

my personal opinion only:

There is a huge transformation in me as an Advaitin. I am a different sort of

a guy in my Family and in my Office. My approach and decisions in life
greatly differ from others. Following are my opinions about the Pros and
cons of being an Advaitin:

1) An Advaitin is entirely different from normal human beings. He may be considered a

different species. He may lead a secluded life. But at the same time, he may not be a
weary person. He would also joke, laugh, cry, go to movies, enjoy but still with a strong
reminder that he is none of these. He may prefer to lead a simple life without any outcry.
He lives as Pure Awareness. He always remembers that he is Pure Awareness. His mind
may go blank many times even during the course of speaking with others.

2) An Advaitin mostly leads a contented life. This has great implications in one's
approach to life. He is just not after Materialistic Life or gains and hence his nature and
temperament may not go well as a professional Business Man or Police or Lawyer or
Politician. His consciousness may not give room to exercise extreme compromises of
ideologies simply to achieve success in such spheres. He is never cunning. How could a
person preaching Non Judgmental Attitude be a good Police Officer or Lawyer or
Politician?

3) An Advaitin looks life in a Non Judgmental way which may or may not go well
anywhere both in Family and Outside. He would not exercise very harsh decisions
anywhere and leave room for self correction in others. Compassion and empathy may
not do good all the time.
4) An Advaitin may be considered as a person living in Illusion by all people including
family members.

5) As an Advaitin mostly follows the Middle Path, he may be considered by others as a

Toothless Fellow. Maybe he is the least controversial person.

6) The Decision Making of an Advaitin is a long process and more time consuming. He
may not be an Instant decision maker. An Advaitin allows decisions to happen naturally
in him and would keep quiet till the decision naturally blossoms in him.

7) An Advaitin will be considered as a 'Non Enjoyer' of life and may be assumed as a

'Non Materialist' and lacking in Worldly Recreations. He may adopt a Passive and not
an Active approach in life.

8) An Advaitin is not too much mentally dominated. He may not remember many past
incidents like Quarrels, Differences of opinions with others etc and hence it may not go
well with the other parties. He may forget most important dates and activities like filing
of returns, renewing permits, licences etc. He may be forgetful in nature. Someone
needs to remind him of many worldly activities.

9) There is no Vendetta, Jealousy, Hostility, Revenge etc for an Advaitin. He is the most
adaptable and flexible person.

10) An Advaitin may not carry most happenings that are not worth remembering in his
mind, as he prefers to stay in Awareness rather than burdening his brain with frivolous
information.

11) When Awareness/Consciousness take the lead, his Mind may take the backseat and
hence an Advaitin may not be a spontaneous respondent in communications. He may be
slow in communicating. His mind may go blank many times. Some Advaitins may be
adept in getting into Samadhi State (A trance state purposely induced through deep
meditation where one is aware in the Sleep with/without swaying or circular movements
of the head).
12) An Advaitin may not have much Ego and Emotions which may go well/ may not go
well in the society.

13) An Advaitin may not be very Active as Satva is his Nature and not Rajas.

14) An Advaitin Brain may become hardwired to be different from the rest which may or
may not go well with others surrounding him. The way his mind is hard wired, he may
use his Mind as a tool and may not be ruled so much by it. Subconscious tendencies may
slowly get refined in him.

15) Since, an Advaitin is a harmless person others may not be feeling too harsh about
him. Some people may think that he may be less competent.

16) As silent water may run deep, an Advaitin may be an extremely brilliant, intelligent
and wise person. Hence, his advice may be sought by others often.

17) There may be an Inner Bliss (Peace) in an Advaitin all the time for no reason.

The above passage may be purely my assumptions, as I speak only from my own
personal experience.

Some wrong Notions about Advaitins

1. An Advaitin is aloof ​- An Advaitin is neither attached nor detached.

He just sees everything from a Distance just as a witness, like a person
watching a TV including his own actions. But he is Loving and very
compassionate.

2. An Advaitin has no emotions - Emotions are inevitable for a meaningful living.

But, an Advaitin can easily get through the emotions than normal people.
3. An Advaitin is Non judgmental ​- An Advaitin do get Judgement. But, he does not
attach much importance to them and let them go in most cases.

4. An Advaitin is very Adamant and Authoritative - The opposite is the Truth. He

is the most adjustable and flexible person.

5. An Advaitin is not fit to be Practical in Life ​- They are the most practical
persons in day to day aspects of living. They easily go with the flow of Life.

6. An Advaitin does not Enjoy Life - Onlookers may think so. But they are the most
peaceful and blissful people. They don't carry anything in their heads.

7. Advaitins are Lazy People - They are neither Tamas (Lazy) or Rajas
(Hyperactive). They are very Satvik (balanced).

8. Advaitins are Aloof and very reserved - No, they can easily get along and mold
them to any situation, in-spite of being termed aloof.

9. Advaitins wear special symbols and robes - No. You can't identify an Advaitin
with such things.

10. An Advaitin is not Religious - An Advaitin is deeply spiritual, but not an Atheist.
He is beyond any such brands​.