Mahayana - Advaita - Theravada realisations Mahayana claims that the realisation of Nirvana in Theravada is dual while Mahayana is non dual.

I have read that Advaita (the universal consciousness theory) is the same as Mahayana.


Does that mean that Mahayana claims that the universe is unreal, and that Everything is consciousness -- which means that the universe (and the time and space existing in it) is illusory, and exists only from the Point of view of the separate self but not in reality?
Or are they not as extreme as Advaita, but instead only claims that time do not exist (except) in our minds -- but Everything is consciousness -- or is there difference between Mahayana and Advaita Vedanta?


I want to learn both paths and then use both for my benefit. From what I have read the realisations are not the same and I would really like to understand the both realisations.

Thank you for your patience and your energy
Mahayana claims that the realisation of Nirvana in Theravada is dual while Mahayana is non dual.


In Theravada, Nirvana is defined as the ending of greed, hatred &amp; delusion or the destruction of craving. In Theravada, in Nirvana, all phenomena, internal &amp; external, including Nirvana itself, are viewed as without an inherent "self". In Theravada, in Nirvana, everything, including Nirvana itself, is viewed as mere "elements" ("dhatu"). In follows notions of "dual" &amp; "non-dual" are not relevant to Theravada Nirvana. Theravada Nirvana acknowledges there are "internal" ("ajjhattika") and "external" ("bāhirā") phenomena (refer MN 148, for example). MN 1, for example, clearly says "oneness" ("ekatta") is not Nibbana. 


  I have read that Advaita (the universal consciousness theory) is the same as Mahayana.


"Mahayana" is the "Great Vehicle"; formulating teachings for the largest audience of people of different dispositions. Mahayana took many Hindu notions, such as "advaita" &amp; various deities, and transformed them into so-called "Buddhist" &amp; "Vajrayana" doctrines of "non-duality" &amp; "Bodhisattvas" (such as Tara, Yellow Jambala, Medicine Buddha, Avalokiteśvara, etc) to appeal to a wider audience of people. 

In Hinduism, the word "advaita" means "non-secondness" and has its roots in "idealist monism" (refer to link). Mahayana, including influenced by Chinese Taosim, adapted "advaita" to be "non-duality" or "oneness", such as in Hsin Hsin Ming sutra. 


  Does that mean that Mahayana claims that the universe is unreal, and that Everything is consciousness --


This might definitely be the case in the Yogachara school. Apart from that; best to ask the Mahayana gurus such as Andrei Volkov. As an adherent of Pali Buddhism, I do not waste my time with Mahayana, such as with Narjaguna &amp; The Heart Sutra, which I regard as having wrong views.