Understanding Universe and Life – Samkhya Philosophy- 8
THE ATMAN
The Atman is the soul. It is the aspect of Purusha which is a part of creation. The Atman is the immortal aspect of our mortal existence. It is the innermost part of all objects in creation including man. It is more subtle than any matter. It generates its own successive material bodies. It is the microcosm representing the macrocosm in each of us. Man reflects the divine qualities of the Atman and is able to live a purposeful life, have goals and aims in life and work to achieve them and experience the pleasures and pains of earthly life. This world and its creatures are here to facilitate the soul's self-centered desires, and ultimately to enable its return back to the Brahman.
The Bhagwad Gita gives an excellent description of the soul. According to it, the soul, or Atman, is indestructible and eternal. It neither slays not can it be slain. It is never born, never dies and after coming into existence never ceases to be. It is nitya (always), sasvatah (permanent) and purana (very ancient). It does not suffer and cannot be tainted. At the time of death it does not die, but leaves the body and enters into a new one. Weapons cannot pierce it, fire cannot burn it, water cannot moisten it and wind cannot dry it. It is impenetrable, incombustible, all pervading, stable and immobile. It is invisible, imperceptible and immutable.
The human body is a composite of many things. The soul is superior to everything else in the human being. The senses through which we enjoy and take delight in this world are great and greater than the senses is the mind for it connects consciousness to the outer world via the senses. Greater than the mind is buddhi as buddhi knows, decides, judges, and discriminates. Greater than the buddhi is the Self for the buddhi was created through the union of the Self or Purusha and Prakriti.
Though it is verily the Brahman itself, the Atman encases itself in the three gunas, the five elements and five senses. It descends into the physical body and world through self projection and participates in a game of self induced illusion and delight. Since it is bound by the ego which creates the illusion that it is the limited body, the truth of its divine origin and wisdom are veiled by ignorance. Our entire existence is outward bound though the senses and sensory perceptions and we forget our divine roots. The Atman is the silent partner to all our thoughts, deeds and experiences in this world. It is the observer and in the indweller of all beings.
The Ahamkar or Ego is often confused for the Atman. The Ego is a false centre which assumes the position of control and ownership. In reality it is an illusion which is born out of sensory experiences and collection of thoughts and memories. The nature of Ego is illusion, impermanence and suffering whereas the nature of Atman is reality, permanence and Bliss. The Ego speaks of I, Me and Mine and when we rise above the Ego, the Atman reveals itself as the real Self or the Brahman.
The Atman cannot be known or understood by the senses or the mind. The mind is an imperfect instrument which has an inherent inability to understand the Atman. The intellect and logic are also not capable of helping us to know the Atman. Then how can we realize the Atman? What are the procedures to be followed?
Yama - the God of Death - who for the Hindus is Dharma Personified - teaches Nachiketa lessons on self realziation. He says that the self cannot be known by he:
• Who lives a righteous life
• Controls his senses
• Stills his mind
• Practices meditation
It is not obtained through intellect or learned discourses. It comes from close association with a realized teacher or Guru. Have association with a realized teacher or Guru is of no use, unless there is an deep commitment to know the truth of Self. The self can be attained only by those whom the Self chooses. Unto such people, the Self reveals itself.
The liberated soul is different from the soul inside the living body which the Hindu scriptures term as Jivatam or the embodied soul. The embodied soul is caught in the snare of the samsara sagara or the causative world through desires and attachment. The liberated soul lives in this world but is free from all entanglements and is forever free from the control of Prakriti.
(contd in blog 9.....)
