Neti neti

In Hinduism (especially in Jnana Yoga and Advaita Vedanta ), neti-neti is a mantra meaning "not that, not that." This expression can be found in the Upanishads . One of the first philosophers of Advaita to propose a neti-neti approach was Adi Shankara . This apophatic practice (see apophatic theology) is an expression of the fact that the Absolute is not something that can be described - it is beyond discursive thinking.

Neti-neti is also an analytical process - understanding something through a clear definition of what it is not. One of the key elements of Jnana Yoga is the “research of neti-neti” - an approach to understanding the nature of Brahman without using affirming (and therefore inadequate) definitions or descriptions: more precisely, we are talking about a consistent “rejection” of attempts to define the Absolute in a discursive way.

The goal of this exercise is to remove conceptual patterns and other obstacles to meditation. In the same way, a sage can express the nature of the divine simply by pointing out its incomparability with anything else.

Similar directions in other (and in Indian) theological systems trying to reveal the Absolute, noting what it is not (neti - not that), are called apophatic theology.