1001Philosophers

Gaudapada c. 500 – c. 600

Gaudapada (c. 500 – c. 600) was an Indian philosopher of the Medieval era, associated with Vedanta and Indian Philosophy.

Gaudapada was an Indian philosopher of the early medieval period, traditionally regarded as the paramaguru, the teacher's teacher, of Adi Shankara, and the first systematic exponent of Advaita Vedanta. His Mandukya Karika, a verse commentary on the brief Mandukya Upanishad, introduced the doctrine of ajativada, the non-origination of the world, arguing that nothing has ever truly come into being and that what appears as the manifold of experience is, like a dream, a non-dual awareness mistaking itself for plurality. His engagement with Buddhist Madhyamaka and Yogacara and his austere monism set the framework within which classical Advaita would later develop.

Key facts

Nationality
Indian
Era
Medieval
Movements
Vedanta, Indian Philosophy

Selected quotes

  • Attributed to Gaudapada:

    “Nothing is ever born, nothing dies; the appearance of birth and death is illusion.”

  • Attributed to Gaudapada:

    “What is seen in the waking state is no less a dream than what is seen in sleep.”

  • Attributed to Gaudapada:

    “Duality is the fancy of the unliberated; for the wise, all is non-dual.”

  • Attributed to Gaudapada:

    “The self that wakes, dreams, and sleeps is one self, witness of all three.”

  • Attributed to Gaudapada:

    “The world is neither real nor unreal; it is the play of consciousness with itself.”

Frequently asked about Gaudapada

When did Gaudapada live?
Gaudapada was born in c. 500 and died in c. 600.
Where was Gaudapada from?
Gaudapada was an Indian philosopher of the Medieval era.
What philosophical movements is Gaudapada associated with?
Gaudapada was associated with Vedanta and Indian Philosophy.
What was Gaudapada known for?
Gaudapada was an Indian philosopher of the early medieval period, traditionally regarded as the paramaguru, the teacher's teacher, of Adi Shankara, and the first systematic exponent of Advaita Vedanta.
How many quotes are attributed to Gaudapada?
There are 5 attributed quotations from Gaudapada in the 1001Philosophers collection, organized by topic.