Difference between revisions of "Atman" - New World Encyclopedia
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'''Atman''', in both [[Hinduism]] and [[Buddhism]], refers to the human soul. While Hindus believe that the soul represents the life-force within all human beings and animals which survives death in a cycle of [[reincarnation]], Buddhists believe that no such soul exists, a doctrine referred to as ''anatman''. In some schools of Hinduism, such as [[Advaita]] Vedanta, it is held that atman is fully identical to Brahman, the supreme monistic principle or deity, while other schools such as [[Visistadvaita]] and [[Dvaita]] Vedanta, claim that this is only partially true or not true at all, respictively. | '''Atman''', in both [[Hinduism]] and [[Buddhism]], refers to the human soul. While Hindus believe that the soul represents the life-force within all human beings and animals which survives death in a cycle of [[reincarnation]], Buddhists believe that no such soul exists, a doctrine referred to as ''anatman''. In some schools of Hinduism, such as [[Advaita]] Vedanta, it is held that atman is fully identical to Brahman, the supreme monistic principle or deity, while other schools such as [[Visistadvaita]] and [[Dvaita]] Vedanta, claim that this is only partially true or not true at all, respictively. | ||
| − | ==Atman and Brahman== | + | ==Hinduism== |
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| + | ===Early History=== | ||
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| + | ===Atman and Brahman=== | ||
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| + | Perhaps the most famous claim made in the Upanishads is that atman is the very same as Brahman. The ninth chapter of The Taittiriya Upanishad reports this as follows: "He who knows the Bliss of Brahman, whence words together with the mind turn away, unable to reach It? He is not afraid of anything whatsoever. He does not distress himself with the thought: 'Why did I not do what is good? Why did I do what is evil?'. Whosoever knows this regards both these as Atman; indeed he cherishes both these as Atman. Such, indeed, is the Upanishad, the secret knowledge of Brahman." In the years that followed, the three schools of Vedanta ("end of the Vedas') provided varied interpretations of the relation of Brahman and atman based on statements such as these. | ||
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| + | ====Advaita Vedanta==== | ||
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| + | ====Visistadvaita Vedanta==== | ||
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| + | ====Dvaita Vedanta==== | ||
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| + | ==Buddhism== | ||
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[[Category: Philosophy and religion]] | [[Category: Philosophy and religion]] | ||
[[Category: Religion]] | [[Category: Religion]] | ||
Revision as of 01:06, 29 August 2006
Atman, in both Hinduism and Buddhism, refers to the human soul. While Hindus believe that the soul represents the life-force within all human beings and animals which survives death in a cycle of reincarnation, Buddhists believe that no such soul exists, a doctrine referred to as anatman. In some schools of Hinduism, such as Advaita Vedanta, it is held that atman is fully identical to Brahman, the supreme monistic principle or deity, while other schools such as Visistadvaita and Dvaita Vedanta, claim that this is only partially true or not true at all, respictively.
Hinduism
Early History
Atman and Brahman
Perhaps the most famous claim made in the Upanishads is that atman is the very same as Brahman. The ninth chapter of The Taittiriya Upanishad reports this as follows: "He who knows the Bliss of Brahman, whence words together with the mind turn away, unable to reach It? He is not afraid of anything whatsoever. He does not distress himself with the thought: 'Why did I not do what is good? Why did I do what is evil?'. Whosoever knows this regards both these as Atman; indeed he cherishes both these as Atman. Such, indeed, is the Upanishad, the secret knowledge of Brahman." In the years that followed, the three schools of Vedanta ("end of the Vedas') provided varied interpretations of the relation of Brahman and atman based on statements such as these.
