Advaita Vedānta is best understood as a non-dual spiritual tradition that is at once a rigorous philosophical system and a living religious path. It affirms the identity of ātman and Brahman, and it does so not merely as a matter of belief, but through carefully articulated metaphysical and epistemological arguments. Its exponents employ logical reasoning and dialectical methods to examine the nature of reality, consciousness, and causation, and to respond systematically to opposing viewpoints. In this sense, it stands as a highly developed school of thought that can be, and often is, studied purely as philosophy.

At the same time, Advaita Vedānta is inseparable from the religious world out of which it arises. It is rooted in and interprets Hindu sacred texts such as the Upaniṣads, the Bhagavad Gītā, and the Brahma Sūtras, treating them not simply as philosophical sources but as śruti, authoritative revelation. Within this framework, it prescribes spiritual disciplines—ethical living, renunciation, meditation, self-inquiry, and devotion—as means to mokṣa, liberation from suffering and bondage. Guru–disciple relationships, devotional elements, and participation in the broader Hindu ritual and devotional life all find a place within its ambit, even when regarded as provisional supports for the realization of non-dual truth.

Because of this dual character, the usual distinction between “religion” and “philosophy” does not sit easily upon Advaita Vedānta. Its leading teachers, especially Śaṅkara, integrate rigorous conceptual analysis with contemplative practice and scriptural exegesis, aiming not only at intellectual clarity but at direct realization of the non-dual reality they describe. In traditional settings it functions as a comprehensive spiritual path and theological vision, while in academic contexts it is often approached as a sophisticated philosophical system. The most faithful characterization sees it as a unified tradition in which philosophical inquiry and religious practice are mutually illuminating aspects of a single pursuit of ultimate truth.