The word means soul, but carries with it such important implications that it is the base on which Hinduism stands. The concept of Atman revolves around the idea that there is a true self (the atman) and a material world in which it is trapped. The soul is separate from the body and mind and is also trapped by both. The mind identifies self with body, and purpose within a material world, but the atman is absolved of such attachments and it is our goal as humans to free it from the clutches of samsara. To do this, one must reach a level of thought and action known as Krishna Consciousness. All forms of yoga and meditation are aimed at releasing the atman. Important also is the fact that the atman does not change. It always was, is and will be. Given that it is derived of Brahman, and Brahman exists since time immemorial and forever more, atman, by default, shares the same qualities of timelessness. This belief in unchanging self shapes the Hindu attitude towards issues such as respect for life, empathy and compassion, etc...
Reincarnation and Samsara:
- The travel of the soul from one body to another (reincarnation)
- Samsara is the cycle of birth, disease, old age and death in the material world
- Souls exist in everything, but to varying degrees of alertness. Lowest to highest is aquatics, plants reptiles/insects, birds, animals and then humans.
- The next body of the soul is determined by state of mind at death and karma
Law of Karma:
- Accumulates only in the human form. Other animals are bound by instinct and therefore take no moral decision.
- Karma elevates (good deeds), Vikarma degrades, Akarma is neutral and leads to liberation.
- This answers questions such as why bad things happen to good people (karma is worked off in the next life and therefore, when bad things happen they must be endured)
- Practices: Pious acts such as charity, penance and pilgrimage. Avoidance of acts which would neglect or abuse the 5 sections of society (women, children, animals, saintly people and the elderly).
Pakriti and Guna:
- Matter: undergoes 3 stages of existence which are creation, sustenance and inevitable destruction
- Guna: qualities of material nature, Passion (rajas) creates, Goodness (sattva) sustains and Ignorance (tamas) destroys.
- Guna explain all material phenomena. If one is immersed largely in Sattva will be reincarnated in heavenly planets, those in Rajas will remain in samsara and those in Tamas will be reincarnated lower in the chain of living.
- Combinations of Gunas can result in any kind of movement through the cycles and levels of existence.
- Each Guna is controlled by a god, Brhama, Vishnu, Shiva.
Maya: Illusion:
- Term used to describe the world in which the soul is trapped.
- Refers to the concept that the soul in Tamas identifies with the body and all matter connected to it. Race, religion, etc. The soul seeks simply to enjoy everything material no matter the consequence.
- In Rajas, the soul seeks to enjoy material things, but repents when it knows its done wrong
- In Sattva, the soul is immersed in righteous action, disregarding the material world and its benefits, and thus is on route to liberation.
- Pratices: Samanas remove themselves from the material world and live an ascetic lifestyle in order to refrain from falling into maya. Others simply engage in mind controlling meditation in order to consciously avoid Maya.
Moksha:
- Ultimate goal in life
- Unity with god (nature of the unity is debatable)
- Practices: Renunciation (in old age particularly) and anything designed to over come lust, anger and greed.
God:
- Percieved in three ways: Brahma is the all pervading aspect of god. He is everything. Antaryami is the part of god that resides within all living beings and Bhagavan is the more conventional view of god who is presiding over this universe.
- God is reached with philosophical study, yogic exercises and worship.
- Advaita are the monistic sects of hinduism which claim that there is one god, everyone's soul is a part of that god and all of the various representations of god are simply representations of the many aspects of God.
- Dvaita are the monotheistic sects, they claim that there is one distinct god with form, personhood, and action. He is distinct from the individual soul.
- Worship through Murti (sacred Images) is a large part of understanding these forms of God.
Dharma:
- Varnashrama: The frame work for the caste system
- Not a man made system, but a natural occurence in all societies to some extent.
- Each Varna has a Dharma, a specific attribute suited simply for that varna and no other (i.e. non-violence is a must in the priestly caste, but not acceptable for the warriors).
- Duty is important, it is necessary for everyone to realize their potential within their caste and act accordingly. (help society run smoothly)
- Sanatana: Religious Duty
- refers to the purpose of all things (fire is hot, sugar is sweet, etc)
- Duties which pertain to the atman. these are constant for all people.
- It is intrinsic in all beings to perform service and these duties transcend the temporary world.
One Goal, Different Paths:
- Moksha is the goal
- 4 steps to get there, Dharma (duty) leads to Artha (wealth) which leads to Kama (sensual pleasure) and then one realizes that all this is futile and seeks Moksha.
- the four goals are all necessary stepping stones in the quest for eternal peace, but everyone reaches these goals in a personalized manner.
- The process of reaching these goals is Yoga.
Scripture and Guru:
- Shastra is the written scripture
- Shabda-brhaman is the oral tradition and is the most reliable source of authority.
- Hinduism is not all that authoritative and encourages open ended philosophical exploration.
Kala: The Concept of Time:
- cyclical and eternal time is central to hindu belief (close to concept of atman)
- Time extends for ever forward and back.
- No judgement day concept. When the universe ends, it only leads to its re-creation
- Universe exists for lifetime of brhama (1 day = 1000 maha-yugas)
- Yuga is one age, there are four, successively shorter and more degraded
- Yugas: Satya, Dvapara, Treta, Kali.
Creation:
- Universe is created again and again
- Hinduism places emphasis on other planes of existence
- Three material worlds: Heavenly planets, earth, lower worlds.
- There are many enclosed material universes (like bubbles within bubbles)
- No clear account of creation
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