Understanding Atman: The Soul

An awareness program on Understanding Atman — the Soul, the Self or The Spirit, is an initiative by the Vedicology Center for Spiritual Empowerment to support the tradition of Sanatana Dharma. Vedicology team members Mr Eswaran Namboothiri and Mr Praveen Saanker facilitate a study on understanding the core philosophy and essential concepts of Atman. This program is conducted as a two-day workshop at Chennai’s Vedicology Center for Spiritual Empowerment.

What is Atman?

Atman is a Sanskrit term that means Inner self or soul. In Hindu philosophy, Atman is the foundational principle, the real self of someone beyond the identification of the gist of a person with happenings. To be able to attain liberation (moksha), a human being has to acquire self-knowledge (Atma Jnana), that is, to observe that one’s true self (Atman) is equal to the higher self Brahman.

Hinduism’s six schools consider that there is Atman (soul( self) in every being.

It is vital to understand the foundational concept named Atman to understand the spiritual core of Hinduism. The Real Self, which never changes, is referred to by atman. It is distinct from both the body and the brain. This real self is beyond the designations we ascribe regarding nationality, sex, species and race. Ideas of reincarnation are natural extensions of the preliminary concept. Consciousness is regarded as a symptom of the soul.

Mr Praveen Saanker and Mr Eswaran Namboothiri motivate the participants to understand that the true self (atman) is distinct from the mortal body. Another vital point is that earthly denominations do not apply to the spirit. The participant’s key takeaway is the atman is your soul — unchanging, conscious and constant. The most important learning is that consciousness within us is an extension of the soul and, in a way, an extension of the higher self ( Brahman).

Connected Practices

All spiritual practices and yogas aim to realise the true self. Just when one stops searching for happiness that is external and appears within, can one perceives the authentic self. According to the Bhagavad-gita, this may be attained through meditation study, renunciation, and the active and selfless performance of a person’s duty. Indeed, just before the battle of Kuruksetra, Krishna encouraged Arjuna to develop his self-realisation.

Common Misunderstandings of Atman

1. Hindus believe that they have a soul.

On the contrary, Hindus believe that we, like all living beings, are the soul and have a body.

2. Hindus believe that atman = brahman.

Whereas nearly all Hindus maintain that the spirit is Brahman (soul ), this equation could be misinterpreted to conclude that Hindus believe that the soul and God are equivalent in all respects.

This awareness program empowers you to begin a search within yourself to understand your exact self, your real identity. By the end of this program, you could have more clarity on the following questions.

What is Atman?
What is my identity?
Who is atman?
How are atman and brahman related?

The concept of Atman has the earliest references in the Rig Veda. Vedicology facilitators Mr Praveen Saanker and Mr Easwaran Namboothiri will take you through an explorative journey that covers the development of this particular concept through the Vedas, Upanishads, The six schools of Hinduism ( All orthodox primary schools of Hinduism – Nyaya, Vaisesika, Samkhya, Yoga, Mimamsa, and Vedanta accept the foundational premise of the Vedas and Upanishads that “Atman exists”) and the Dharma Sutras.

Vedicology awareness program on Atman is conducted at the Vedicology Center for Spiritual Empowerment, Annanagar, Chennai.