Shaivism/Tantra/Nath New movements Kashmir Shaivism Gaudapada Adi Shankara Advaita-Yoga Nath Kashmir Shaivism Neo-Vedanta Inchegeri Sampradaya Contemporary Shaivism/Tantra/Nath Neo-Advaita Hinduism Buddhism Modern Advaita Vedanta Neo-Vedanta Ajātivāda (अजातिवाद) is the fundamental philosophical doctrine of the Advaitin Hindu philosopher Gauḍapāda.
The concept is also found in Mādhyamaka school of Buddhist philosophy, as the theory of nonorigination.
[web 1] This has led some scholars to believe that the concept of Ajātivāda itself could have been borrowed from Madhyamika Buddhism.
Kśanikatva (momentariness) and Pratītyasamutpāda (dependent origination) which all schools of buddhist philosophy accept as foundational.
[10][11] This distinction is further confirmed by Gaudapada's rejection of Śūnyatā (non-self) in favor of Ātman (self).
[1] The empirical world of appearances is considered Maya (unreal as it is transitory), and not absolutely existent.
Acknowledgeing the strong Buddhist influences, but arguing for the need of an "unchangeable permanent reality," Karmakar opinions that the ajātivāda of Gaudhapada has nothing in common with the Sūnyavāda concept in Buddhism.
[14] While the language of Gaudapada is undeniably similar to those found in Mahayana Buddhism, Coman states that their perspective is different because unlike Buddhism, Gaudapada is relying on the premise of "Brahman, Atman or Turiya" exists and is the nature of absolute reality.
[web 2][note 1]According to David Godman, the ajata doctrine implies that since the world was never created, there are also no jivas within it who are striving for or attaining liberation.
[2] Many scholars, states Richard King, designate Madhyamaka Buddhism as Ajativada.