Meaningful Hinduism

  What Is Atman? Understanding the True Self in Hindu Philosophy One of the deepest questions in Hindu philosophy is: “Who am I?” Am I only this physical body? Am I my thoughts? Am I my emotions? Am I my memories, name, profession and personality? The ancient sages of India explored these questions thousands of years ago through the wisdom of the Vedas and Upanishads . Their inquiry led to one of the most profound concepts in Hindu philosophy: Atman (आत्मन्) — The True Self The Sanskrit word Atman is generally translated as: Self Inner Self Soul True essence of an individual However, Atman is not merely the ego, personality or psychological identity. According to many Hindu philosophical traditions: Atman is the eternal consciousness that exists beyond the changing body and mind. Understanding Atman is considered essential for understanding: Hindu spirituality Vedanta philosophy Karma Reincarnation Moksha (liberation) The Meaning of Atman ...