Jiva, also referred as Jivātman, is a living being or any entity imbued with a life force in Hinduism and Jainism. The word itself originates from the Sanskrit verb-root jīv, which translates as 'to b
Classifications of Jivas (souls) from The Sacred Book of the Jainas
Advaita Vedanta is a Hindu tradition of Vedanta, a Brahmanical tradition of textual exegesis and philosophy; and a monastic institutional tradition nominally related to the Daśanāmi Sampradaya and pro
Jiva
…from the Upanishads, the Brahma Sutras and the Bhagavad Gita. The aforementioned three scriptures are commonly referred to as the Prasthantrayi. The Advaita (non-dualist) Darshan posits the existence of only one entity, Brahman. It considers all distinctions ultimately false since differentiation requires more than one entity…
Adi Shankara, the most prominent exponent of Advaita Vedānta tradition. "I am other than name, form and action. My nature is ever free! I am Self, the supreme unconditioned Brahman. I am pure Awareness, always non-dual." Adi Shankara, Upadesasahasri 11.7
Ramana Maharshi, the Indian sage who is widely regarded as a Jivanmukta
The swan is an important motif in Advaita. The white colour of swan symbolises Sattva guṇa and the ability to discern Satya (Real, Eternal) from Mithya (Unreal, Changing), just as the mythical swan Paramahamsa discerns milk from water.
The ripple, Jivatman, is non-different from the water, Brahman.