Advaita Hinduism and Ayn Rand’s Individualism

Hinduism posits that everything is dwelt in God, while individualism posits that everything is indwelt in the individual. Hinduism seeks self-realization for the individual by merging into God. In contrast, Ayn Rand looks towards the self-realization of the individual on this earth, not in heaven. Individualists assert that they do not exist for any other being, only for themselves, while Hinduism believes in oneness but seeks learned Gurus to help lesser mortals. Hinduism regards OM as the whole-beyond, untouched, immeasurable, invisible, and unlimited. OM is the whole, the source of light. The visible universe is part of the whole God. Consider the little boy who stood for hours on the seashore and came back disappointed, saying, "I could not see the ocean because of the waves." The waves are the ocean. If we want to enjoy God, we must view Him as the whole in all things, including ourselves. In contrast, individualists believe that God does not exist. In this worldview, the individual exists on their own and is not dependent on God. Individualism is about taking care of oneself; it is the belief and practice that every person is unique and self-reliant.