Guest guest Posted February 26, 2002 Report Share Posted February 26, 2002 Namaste to all. Recollect a moment earliest in your life such as when you were about 10 years old. Recollect again a moment from current time, say from yesterday. 'Me-at-10' and 'Me-now', what is the difference ? If we agree that it is the same 'Me', then it easily follows that:- - Me is not the body - Me is not the feelings and thoughts - Me is not anything gross Then what is the 'Me' that we are referring to that is continuous in the above time-frame? Whatever it may be, one may also say that it is the same 'Me' anyway. It is said that essentially this 'Me' is 'Atman'. Upanishads further declare that this 'Atman' is same as 'Paramatma'. That which is 'Me' has to exist without break in all states - deep-sleep, dreams, waking, because we see it daily. Otherwise, ... This is also the same one which sees one's own dreams, though objects seen in a dream all are non-existent in waking state. It is also the same in dreaming state eventhough the objects seen in waking state are absent in dream-state. It is the same in deep-sleep as well where all of the above are absent and where one possesses nevertheless the knowledge(Atman) of lack of perception (of the world). It had been the same thru eternity and will be the same thru eternity. One then asks, how is such as seer be seen ? One may also ask, where is the subtle but yet gross knowledge stored (Vasanas) ? It follows that this Atman is 'Sat-Chit-Ananda' - It is true (exists), (internal) awareness, and is a subject for parama-prema. -- The above are derived with ideas from Vedanta Pancha Dasi, Ch#1, first few stanzas. With Love, Raghava Greetings - Send FREE e-cards for every occasion! http://greetings. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted February 27, 2002 Report Share Posted February 27, 2002 Namaste; Here is my understanding of the distinction between the terms - Atman, Jivatman and Paramatman. Atman represents the consciousness that pervades which is omnipotent and everpresent. Advaita philosophy characterizes two distinct realities- 'relative reality (vyavahara)' and 'absolute reality (paramarthika)" by the following terminology. Brahman (Atman) is termed as Paramatman or 'Nirguna Brahman' or Brahman unmanifested. The manifested Brahman with the body, mind and intellect is the Jivatman. As Jivas, our vision of the 'Nirguna Brahman' at the vyavahara level of reality is the "Saguna Brahman" or Ishwara Swarupa. Jiva due to the presence of Avidya has a limited vision and is able to comprehend the Paramatman as "Ishwara." If and when the Jivatman (we) get rid of our avidya, we get the 'Divine Vision' the Jivatman merges with the Paramatman and all distinctions between Atman, Jivatman and Paramatman disappears. This realization of the Brahman is achieved when we go beyond the boundary surrounded by body, mind and intellect. Let me also caution you that it is to explain the "ultimate reality" using other philosophical structures using other terminology. What I try to explain here is just my understanding of the Advaitic Terminology and other learned members of this list will certainly provide you with more insights. I also recommend you to go over the archives of this list where plenty of discussions are available on the same topic. warmest regards, Ram Chandran advaitin, "Kanishk Chakravarty" <kanishk@a...> wrote: > > The atman is itself the parmatman...? But in the Gita it is written > that....there are 2 souls in the same body.....one is our soul and the other > is the supersoul....which are like 2 birds on the same tree. The supersoul > is the parmatma....or Omnipotent god.....! > I know that our soul is a part of the infinite supersoul....... > > please explain.... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted February 27, 2002 Report Share Posted February 27, 2002 The atman is itself the parmatman...? But in the Gita it is written that....there are 2 souls in the same body.....one is our soul and the other is the supersoul....which are like 2 birds on the same tree. The supersoul is the parmatma....or Omnipotent god.....! I know that our soul is a part of the infinite supersoul....... please explain.... > Namaste to all. > > Recollect a moment earliest in your life such as when > you were about 10 years old. > Recollect again a moment from current time, say from > yesterday. > > 'Me-at-10' and 'Me-now', what is the difference ? > > If we agree that it is the same 'Me', then it easily > follows that:- > - Me is not the body > - Me is not the feelings and thoughts > - Me is not anything gross > > Then what is the 'Me' that we are referring to that is > continuous in the above time-frame? Whatever it may > be, one may also say that it is the same 'Me' anyway. > > It is said that essentially this 'Me' is 'Atman'. > > Upanishads further declare that this 'Atman' is same > as 'Paramatma'. > > That which is 'Me' has to exist without break in all > states - deep-sleep, dreams, waking, because we see it > daily. Otherwise, ... > This is also the same one which sees one's own dreams, > though objects seen in a dream all are non-existent in > waking state. > It is also the same in dreaming state eventhough the > objects seen in waking state are absent in > dream-state. > It is the same in deep-sleep as well where all of the > above are absent and where one possesses nevertheless > the knowledge(Atman) of lack of perception (of the > world). > It had been the same thru eternity and will be the > same thru eternity. > > > One then asks, how is such as seer be seen ? > One may also ask, where is the subtle but yet gross > knowledge stored (Vasanas) ? > > It follows that this Atman is 'Sat-Chit-Ananda' - It > is true (exists), (internal) awareness, and is a > subject for parama-prema. > > -- The above are derived with ideas from Vedanta > Pancha Dasi, Ch#1, first few stanzas. > > > With Love, > Raghava > > Greetings - Send FREE e-cards for every occasion! > http://greetings. > > > Discussion of Shankara's Advaita Vedanta Philosophy of nonseparablity of Atman and Brahman. > Advaitin List Archives available at: http://www.eScribe.com/culture/advaitin/ > To Post a message send an email to : advaitin > Messages Archived at: advaitin/messages > > > > Your use of is subject to > > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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