>>40533860 (OP)>I’ve been a Buddhist for a while now but Hinduism appeals to me sometimes because of atmanWhy? Ultimately, both metaphysics describe the same absolute: a metaphysical Zero, when apophatic theology is taken to its extreme. Most Westerners don't understand this, but in Hindu metaphysics (Advaita Vedanta), the atman is NOT the jivatman, and it is the jivatman that the overwhelming majority of people think of when they conceptualize the “self”. The atman is the Brahman, and this Brahman is more precisely the Nirguna Brahman, the absolute “beyond all attributes”, from which no positivity can be asserted: an ontological and conceptual emptiness, very similar to Sunyata. The divine and personal self, positive, determined and characterized, is Saguna Brahman or Ishvara: and it is ultimately unreal. I find Buddhism finer, in that it pushes apophaticism to the limit, whereas Hinduism tends to retain residues of onto-theology. But both are dharmic and describe the same thing at a high level (Daoism too btw). For an interesting synthesis of the two, I recommend “Nonduality: In Buddhism and Beyond” by Zen master David R. Loy. In the end, truth transcends schools, and all the radii of the circle lead to the center. Take care friend. :)
