Classical Advaita Vedanta, as systematized by Shankara, emphasizes the absolute oneness of Ātman (the individual self) and Brahman (ultimate reality), viewing the world of names and forms as māyā—an illusory superimposition to be transcended through rigorous jñāna (knowledge) and vairāgya (dispassion). Liberation (mokṣa) arrives when ignorance is dispelled and the seeker realizes “Brahman alone is real; the world is unreal.”

In contrast, the Neo-Vedanta of the Ramakrishna Mission—sparked by Ramakrishna’s mystical union with the Divine in myriad faiths and Vivekananda’s globally minded voice—takes a more expansive, heart-and-soul approach:

• Divine Immanence in the World
Instead of casting the universe aside as illusion, this school sees it as God’s playground. Every person, event or particle carries a spark of Brahman. Service (seva) becomes worship; hospitals, schools and relief work are as sacred as temple rituals. Recent COVID-19 clinics set up by the Mission showed Vedanta in action—compassion without preaching.

• Harmony of Religions
Where classical Advaita often sticks to its Vedic roots, Neo-Vedanta treats Hinduism, Islam, Christianity, Buddhism and others as rivers flowing to the same ocean. Interfaith dialogues at the UN and grass-roots peace initiatives around communal tensions reflect this all-embracing spirit.

• Four Yogas United
Jñāna yoga (knowledge) still shines, but it's joined hand in glove with bhakti (devotion), rāja (meditation) and karma (selfless action). The ideal? A balanced life where meditation, study, worship and social work reinforce one another rather than pull in opposing directions.

• Practical Spirituality
Classical Advaita’s emphasis on renunciation finds a new shade—a world-affirming renunciation that says “be in the world, but not of it.” Young volunteers tackling climate change or running free-clinics illustrate how Neo-Vedanta “walks the talk” of unity through action.

In this light, Ramakrishna Mission’s Vedanta feels less like a distant mountain peak to be scaled solely by monastics and more like an inviting path anyone can tread—where every act of kindness reveals the one Reality glittering behind diversity.