Ä€tman (Buddhism)

Atman or Atma (Sanskrit, n, आत्मन्, Atma, Pali: atta, originally: the breath of life, breath) is a term used in Indian philosophy. He referred to the individual self, the indestructible, eternal essence of the mind and is often translated as soul.

Advaita Vedanta

According to the Advaita Vedanta philosophy considers Atman is identical to the absolute self- Brahman ( " world soul "). This is therefore the true self of man, which remains unchanged in all perceptions, thoughts and feelings. Since Atman and Brahman are not considered as two, but as a single principle, Advaita Vedanta is a monistic philosophy.

Upanishads

In the age of the Upanishads ( 750-500 BC ), the World Soul Brahman and the individual self, atman, seen as essential unity which represents the true essence of the world. This One will be seen in the universe as Brahman, in detail as Atman. As the goal of life, the idea is to recognize the unity of Atman and Brahman. Atman is ever existent and never separated from the cosmic force, the Brahman, it do not change yourself. The Indo-European root of Atman is the German word for "breath" recognizable ( ET - men, see also Old English æthm ).

Vishnuites

While followers of Advaita Vedanta Atman as being identical with the soul of the world, free of attributes, others, such as followers of Dvaita Vedanta, which include in particular many Vaishnavites ( worship God as Vishnu), the Atman with transcendental properties. Rupa Goswami, a disciple of the important Vaishnavite philosopher Chaitanya, those described in detail in his book Bhakti - rasamrta - sindhu: So has the Atman sat, His eternal identity, he is full of awareness, knowledge, cit, and ananda, bliss. In Vaikuntha, the spiritual world, he has an eternal spiritual form rupa. The shape of the Atman is similar according to this view of the male form of God or God's power of love in female form like that of Radha, Sita or Lakshmi. Here is a monotheistic view.

Criticism of the Atman doctrine in Buddhism

Siddhartha Gautama, known as Buddha, was originally also convinced of the existence of the Atman and tried to find this on the way particularly harsh ascetic practices. Finally, in the course of these experiments, he came to the conclusion that such an indestructible, eternal core of the personality does not exist. Recognizing this, he saw the key to salvation. The subjectivity of man is after Gautama ultimately an illusion. The he founded belief that Buddhism was named later named its founder, therefore, " Anatmanvada " (such as: non- Atman teaching).