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Advaita and non-duality are closely related concepts, but there are important distinctions:

• Advaita Vedanta is a specific school within Hindu philosophy that teaches non-duality as its core principle. Advaita (literally "not-two") asserts that the ultimate reality, called Brahman, is the only real Existent, and the individual self (Atman) is not different from Brahman. The perception of separation (subject-object, self-other) is considered an illusion caused by ignorance. The highest spiritual realization is recognizing that the true self is one with Brahman and that all distinctions are ultimately unreal.wikipedia+2youtube

• Non-duality (or nondualism) is a broader term that refers to the idea that reality is fundamentally undivided and that distinctions such as subject-object or self-other are ultimately artificial or illusory. Non-duality is present in many spiritual traditions, including Advaita Vedanta, but also in Mahayana Buddhism, Taoism, Sufism, Christian mysticism, and others. Each tradition conceptualizes and experiences non-duality differently. For example, in Zen Buddhism, it may be described as the non-difference of subject and object, while in Advaita, it centers on the identity of Atman and Brahman.studysociety+1

Key Differences

	Advaita Vedanta	Non-duality (General)
Tradition/Origin	Hinduism, rooted in Upanishads	Present in many traditions (Buddhist, Taoist, Sufi, mystical Christian, etc.)
Core Teaching	Atman (self) is identical to Brahman (ultimate reality); world is Maya (illusion)	Reality is fundamentally one, not divided; unity prevails over dualistic distinctions
Methods/Emphasis	Scriptural study (Upanishads, Gita), reasoning, meditation	Varies: meditation, self-inquiry, contemplation, direct pointing, koans, etc.
Philosophy	Non-dual monism: Only Brahman is real	Can be monistic, relational, or even paradoxical depending on tradition
Main Goal	Realize one’s identity with Brahman	Realize unity/non-separation in direct experience

Summary

• Advaita Vedanta is a tradition within Hinduism, teaching a specific form of non-duality: the identity of Atman and Brahman.

• Non-duality is a universal spiritual concept that appears in many traditions, each with its own metaphysical framework and terminology.

• Advaita is often considered the most prominent Eastern philosophy teaching non-duality, but it is not the only one, nor does it define the entire spectrum of non-dual experiences and understandings.wikipedia+2

1. https://www.stillnessspeaks.com/traditions/nonduality-advaita/
2. https://www.reddit.com/r/hinduism/comments/flsa7i/what_is_the_difference_between_advaita_vedanta/
3. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nondualism
4. https://hridaya-yoga.com/advaita-vedanta/
5. https://www.studysociety.org/advaita/
6. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Advaita_Vedanta
7. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aAWvp2hQlCA
8. https://studybuddhism.com/en/advanced-studies/abhidharma-tenet-systems/non-buddhist-asian-traditions/nonduality-in-buddhism-and-advaita-vedanta