Meaning of Atman Soul
Spirituality atman Bhagavad Gita

The meaning of atman in Hinduism is best explained in sacred Bhagavad-Gita of Hinduism... the doctrine given to mankind by Lord Krishna in the battle of Mahabharata! Atman in Hinduism is termed soul in English! In the field of spirituality both soul and atman mean the same! For understanding the true precept of atman soul we need traveling to beginning of time!

What is the exact definition of atman... the difference between atman Brahman... our true self... our soul the spirit within! How does atman relate to human body... the cosmic system created by God Almighty... what is its exact relationship with Brahman (termed God Almighty in English). Brahman in Hinduism is also termed Parmatman, Sanatana Purusha, Karta, Bhagwan, Prabhu etc!

In Bhagavad-Gita the meaning of atman soul is apparent and clear! Bhagavad-Gita states our atman... the supreme consciousness that invades whole cosmic system is the only truth of life! Our atman soul is the truthful master and controller of body... the human form and not otherwise! It is not within the capability of the human form to manifest an atman soul!

Atman Hinduism that manifests human form to work out its karma... remove the dross impurities within is on its cosmic journey of 8.4 million manifestations... an earthly life cycle of 96.4 million years! Similar as one KG of pure gold cannot extract itself of its own from lump of hundred KG of gold ore... every atman soul also requires manifesting a series of bodies to work out its karma!

In absence of human form no atman soul can ever reach cosmic end of life... the 8.4 millionth manifestation... the last in cosmic life cycle! Travel in human form is the most pleasant experience for an atman soul! It is only in human form every atman soul finally regains its lost original pure prime pristine primordial form... which was never possible otherwise!

Before manifesting human form every atman soul has already manifested every type of insect life, plant life and animal life! The human form is reached... manifested only after every atman soul manifests a total of 7.3 million bodies! In the human form alone we have 1.1 million types of manifestations for atman soul to reach the cosmic end of life!

The moment human beings gained enlightenment (kaivalya jnana) and finally salvation (moksha)... the atman soul is supposed to have reached its logical end... the 8.4 millionth manifestation when the liberated atman soul finally gains a seat in abode of God... the kingdom of God (termed Vaikuntha in Hinduism). The kingdom of God is a point of no return!

From the first manifestation as an amoeba (single cell formation) to the last as human beings the effort of every atman soul remains reaching the end of cosmic life... the 8.4 millionth manifestation at the earliest! In the circumstances it is imperative on human beings to travel the spiritual path for expediting the journey of our atman soul that resides within our heart!

The doctrine of Bhagavad-Gita clearly states... the presence of atmans souls in the cosmic system is the only truth of life! Apart from existence of atmans souls in cosmos... nothing else truly existed in the whole of cosmos! If we analyze the cosmic system we find the whole cosmos being made up of basic building block of the cosmos... clusters of atoms and molecules!

When perceived from senses point of view things appear solid... truthfully everything in cosmic system is gaseous formation! Even human beings... that appear solid are pure gaseous formation! From the first manifestation as human beings to the 8.4 millionth manifestation... inherent goal of human life remains... gaining enlightenment (kaivalya jnana) at the earliest!

Traveling the uncharted path of spirituality... with no spiritual mentor to guide... I started my journey in search of God when 13 years of age! 25 years of yoga meditation... I finally realized God in 1993 at 37 years of age! The journey of enlightenment is not that easily covered... the prime reason why in the last about 150 years amongst 7 billion people existing world over only two persons gained enlightenment... Sri Ramakrishna Paramhansa and Maharishi Ramana!

The concept of atman... the real principle behind every atman soul manifesting a human body is best explained in Bhagavad-Gita of Hinduism! No other religion explains the concept of atman soul with the same affirmative firmness as Bhagavad-Gita... the prime reason why most enlightened beings world over were produced in India.

Starting from the beginning... Lord Krishna considered an avatar (God manifest in human form) belonged to India and so did Mahavira... the 24th Tirthankara of Jainism (preceptor)! Gautama Buddha also belonged to India. The entire teachings of Jesus Christ and Prophet Mohammed are attributed to famous Nalanda and Taxila universities of yore!

Nalanda University lay in Bihar state of India and Taxila in Pakistan! For understanding concept of atman soul... for gaining enlightenment (kaivalya jnana) and finally salvation (moksha) in present life time every human being needs assimilating wisdom contained in Bhagavad-Gita of Hinduism! Without help of Bhagavad-Gita enlightenment simply cannot be gained under any circumstances!

I was born in a Jain family yet, inherently in the initial stages of my life I switched to understanding Bhagavad-Gita... the doctrine given to mankind by Lord Krishna! Something within my heart fluttered all the time... as if telling me... prompting from within that essence of life lay within Bhagavad-Gita! The 700 shlokas verses of Bhagavad-Gita have no parallel in mankind.

The gist of original Bhagavad-Gita knowing which any human being can reach the stage of enlightenment is available for mere $.60 (Rupees 30/=) at most railway stations of India or directly from Gita press, Gorakhpur, India. The wisdom contained in Bhagavad-Gita can never be understood literally... one needs reading in between the lines!

The messages contained in Bhagavad-Gita relating to atman soul are absolutely clear and straight yet, most human beings dogged by wanton desires and greed for materialistic riches failed to understand Bhagavad-Gita. It is only by following the path of absolute truthfulness all the time; pearls of wisdom contained in Bhagavad-Gita can be understood by one.

For understanding Bhagavad-Gita... one need not be a scholar or a knowledgeable person... one who gloats over bookish knowledge gained! Both Sri Ramakrishna Paramhansa and Maharishi Ramana were illiterates in respect of formal graduation yet, in their lifetime both reached the portals of God... gained enlightenment (kaivalya jnana) and finally salvation (moksha) in their lifetime.

The wisdom of cosmos... the wisdom relating to Atman Brahman... the wisdom relating to atman soul is easily available from any good bookstore in India yet, how many follow the spiritual path with sincerity! 99% people world over do not understand the meaning of spirituality... Atman... soul... Brahman! Can such people ever be expected to gain enlightenment in their lifetime?

By following the path of religion... the essence of atman soul can never be understood! By following the path of rituals... path of bhakti yoga God Almighty can never be reached! However assertive religious preachers be... one who has yet to gain enlightenment (kaivalya jnana) can never show light to would-be seekers... the travelers of spirituality!

Whatever the claim of clergy... domain of God Almighty is only reached by one who in ones lifetime establishes absolute control over five senses and the mind! Finally practicing absolute celibacy for a period of 12 years in continuation... in the process awakening kundalini fully... human beings scaled all barriers of physical manifest life... reached the stage of enlightenment and salvation!

Ever since God Almighty explodes self with a big bang... every atman soul desires reaching end of cosmic life at the earliest! The occurrence of big bang results in pure atmans souls gathering impurities similar as rolling ball gathers moss. To cleanse themselves of dross impurities within starts the cosmic life cycle of every atman soul!

As per Hinduism doctrines every atman soul manifests the first life form when life supporting planets like mother Earth developed in cosmic system! No sooner mother Earth developed... atmans souls immediately started manifesting life! Starting from stage of amoeba, then insect life, plant life and animal life... the atman soul finally manifested the form of human beings!

As a human being, traveling the spiritual path... the uncharted path of spirituality is ordained by God Almighty since the start of the journey! However the control of life on mother Earth laid in hands of human beings... not the atman soul! Dominated by a bloated ego most human beings never hear the promptings of our atman soul that seem to come from within our heart!

Prompted by the voice of my atman soul ever since 13 years of age... I finally crossed the ocean of samsara (worldly life) and nudged my way up step-by-step into the domain of God! Following the path of absolute truthfulness in the present material world is extremely difficult yet, not impossible! Traveling the spiritual path has its pitfalls!

I do not remember how many times I had to eat hell for breakfast... how many contemplations of suicide yet, my goal of life was definite... see and meet God in this very life! I was prepared for any sacrifice that God Almighty might demand of me on the spiritual path... including my body! How truthful it is that everything belongs to God Almighty, human beings simply a pawn in hands of God!

Every single moment of life I have always acted as a true trustee! When a child the concept of trusteeship was explained to me by my father in detail! Since then it was never looking back. God Almighty being the owner of everything cosmic... I had but to play the role of an instrument in the hands of God! That I played willingly, sincerely and with utmost patience!

Before reaching God we have to understand meaning of atman in totality! Without understanding the precept of atman soul... no human being on mother earth can travel the spiritual path! Above 99% people world over indulge in yoga meditation yet, none knows what yoga or meditation is all about! Being religious or spiritual does not mean anything if we do not understand the meaning of atman!

By: Vijay Kumar "Atma Jnani"

Vijay Kumar... The Man who Realized God in 1993 explains the concept of Atman Hinduism. For more on hindu principle of life atman brahman visit - meaning of atman. Send Your Query - click here Ref. 090913

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