우빠니샤드에서 명상의 일종으로 알려져 있는 덧놓음(가탁)은, 이를 수용하고 변용하면서 ‘베단따’라는 체계를 정립하는 샹까라에게 세 가지 의미로 나타난다. 세 가지 의미란 명상적 수행으로서의 덧놓음, 인식론적 결함(오류)으로서의 덧놓음, 방법론적 전략으로서의 덧놓음이다.
첫째, 명상적 수행으로서의 덧놓음은, 유속성 브라흐만에 대한 대표적인 명상으로 기능하면서 무속성 브라흐만에 대한 지속적인 상기를 낳기 때문에, 명상과 지식 사이에 일종의 가교 역할을 한다.
둘째, 명상적 덧놓음의 변형이라고 간주될 수 있는 인식론적 결함으로서의 덧놓음은, 인간의 모든 인식활동을 규정하는 근본적이고 보편적인 조건으로서, 주관과 대상을 덧놓음의 대상으로 삼고 순수주관을 덧놓음의 토대로 삼는 이중구조를 보여준다.
셋째, 인식론적 덧놓음의 방법적 확장이라고 간주될 수 있는 방법론적 전략으로서의 덧놓음은, 전통적인 방법인 ‘덧놓기와 걷어내기’(가탁과 탈가탁)를 가리키는데, 덧놓음의 토대와 대상 사이에 발생하는 혼동을 분별로 이끄는 가장 포괄적이고 중심적인 전략이다.
샹까라에게서 세 가지 의미를 가지는 이 덧놓음은, 이원성이 비이원성으로 전환되는 과정에 대해 신비에의 호소가 아니라 합리적인 설명이 가능하게끔 한다. 또한 ‘베단따’라는 체계를 다른 체계들과 분명하게 차별되게끔 하며, 베단따가 인도의 중심 전통이 되는 데 암묵적으로 일조하기도 한다.
Adhyāsa or superimposition known widely as a kind of meditation in the Upaniṣads is a trace that shows properly a turning point from meditative knowledge to Self-knowledge. This meditation through which an inferior is to be elevated or uplifted to the state of a superior, presents the formal foundation and contributes methodologically in obtaining knowledge of the identity between an individual self and Brahman. In Śaṅkara who succeeds the Upaniṣadic tradition and puts Vedānta on a firm footing, by accepting and modifying this meditation it appears to be three meanings on the concept of 'adhyāsa', i.e. meditative practice, epistemological error, and methodological strategy.
First, adhyāsa as meditative practice takes the form of 'to meditate by superimposing B which is different from A on A'. As far as Śaṅkara looks on meditation as a means of knowledge and on knowledge as a means of liberation, this concept can be a means to enable knowledge on Brahman-without-attribute. Adhyāsa that is representative of meditation on Brahman-with-attribute can act as mediators between meditation and knowledge, since it gives birth to a continuous recollection of Brahman-without-attribute.
Second, adhyāsa as epistemological error, on account of the form of 'to cognize by superimposing B which is different from A on A', is nothing but a transformation of meditative adhyāsa. This most well-known adhyāsa has double structure in the sense that the constituents of adhyāsa i.e. the subject and object are altogether superimposed on the final ground of adhyāsa i.e. the Pure-subject or Ātman. In this way this adhyāsa as false knowledge or ignorance (avidyā) signifies 'false cognition on the Reality by superimposing the non-Reality on the Reality'. Moreover, this given adhyāsa can be said to be a radical and universal condition prescribing all the cognitions of human being, and accordingly, there is no need to trace its origin.
Third, adhyāsa as methodological strategy, an approximate equivalent to the traditional method of 'adhyāropa-apavāda', is a methodological expansion of epistemological adhyāsa to accomplish the ultimate goal of liberation. It may be said that for Śaṅkara this adhyāsa is the most central and inclusive method of practice in a way that it includes all the methods handed down from the Vedāntic tradition. Plus, as the basic tenet of Vedānta consists in re-cognition of the forgotten Reality, so this adhyāsa or adhyāropa accompanied by apavāda is the most reliable method to lead the state of discrimination from that of indiscrimination between the ground and object of adhyāsa.
To look around the philosophical system of Śaṅkara through the concept of adhyāsa aims at to reveal its true character better, by means of reconstructing his system with priority given to a few meanings of adhyāsa. After all three kinds of adhyāsa may have the following significances. First, throughout his substitution from meditative adhyāsa to epistemological one, Śaṅkara throws open the door to a reasonable explanation unlike an appeal to mystery, about the process of shifting duality to non-duality. Second, epistemological adhyāsa of Śaṅkara paves the way for Vedānta as a system and distinguishes it from all other systems. Third, Śaṅkara plays a part in making Vedānta philosophy as a central tradition in India by a tacit, since he perfects the system of adhyāsa penetrating epistemology, metaphysics, and theory of practice consistently.