Atman and Brahman

By Santosh Chaudhary, M.Sc (Physics) Nalanda Open University Symbolic image for Material Wealth In Indian philosophy, material wealth, known as Artha , is one of the four traditional aims of life, collectively referred to as Purusharthas . The other three aims are Dharma (righteousness, moral values), Kama (pleasure, love, psychological values), and Moksha (liberation, spiritual values). Artha signifies the pursuit of wealth or material advantage. It ensures dignity through food, shelter, clothing, and enough material possessions to live a meaningful life. The pursuit of material comforts helps to maintain social order. However, excessive pursuit of wealth can lead to greed and social disorder. In the philosophical school of Indian Materialism, known as Lokayata or Carvaka , the good is strictly associated with pleasure and the only ethical obligation forwarded by the system is the maximization of one's own pleasure. It's important to note that all four Purusharthas are co...

By Santosh Chaudhary, M.Sc (Physics) Nalanda Open University Symbolic Physical Body In Indian philosophy, the physical body is considered significant for several reasons: 1. Vehicle of the Soul : Ancient Indian philosophy views the soul as divine and the body as the vehicle of the soul. This perspective is similar to Plato's thought, which has had a continuous influence on Western philosophy. 2. Impermanence and Suffering : A defining feature of South Asian religious and yogic traditions is the belief in the body's impermanence and its perception as a source of suffering. This suffering typically results from a misguided attachment of the self to its corporeal manifestation. 3. Path to Liberation (Moksha) : The physical body is seen as an impediment to attaining liberation (moksha or kaivalya) in classical yoga. However, early medieval Haṭhayoga texts present ontological changes in the perception of the physical body in liberation. The concept of "living liberation" ...

By Santosh Chaudhary , M.Sc (Physics) Nalanda Open University   According to some Hindu traditions, such as Samkhya and Yoga, there is a concept of subtle body ( Sukshma Sharira ) that is distinct from the physical body ( Sthula Sharira ) and the Atman . The subtle body is composed of mind ( Manas ), intellect ( Buddhi ), ego ( Ahamkara ), and vital energy ( Prana ). The subtle body is the carrier of impressions ( Samskaras ) and desires ( Vasanas ) that are accumulated from one's actions ( Karma ) in previous lives. The subtle body is also the vehicle of transmigration, as it moves from one physical body to another after death, until it is purified and liberated by the grace of God or by self-realization. Some Hindu traditions, such as Advaita Vedanta, reject the idea of a separate subtle body, and instead regard the mind, intellect, ego, and vital energy as modifications or projections of the atman. According to this view, the atman itself is not affected by any impressions or de...

  By Santosh Chaudhary , M.Sc (Physics) Nalanda Open University   According to Hinduism, the atman or the soul is the eternal and unchanging essence of a living being. The atman carries the impressions (samskaras) of one's actions (karma) from one life to another. These impressions determine the nature and quality of the next body that the atman will inhabit. The process of reincarnation (samsara) is driven by the atman's desire for material enjoyment and liberation from suffering. There are different views on how the atman transfers from one body to another. Some Hindu schools believe that the atman leaves the body at the time of death and travels to a subtle or astral plane, where it awaits for a suitable new body. Other schools believe that the atman directly enters a new body without any intermediate state. Some schools also believe that the atman is accompanied by a subtle body ( sukshma sharira ) that contains the mind, intelligence and ego. The subtle body carries th...