The Eternal Self Flashcards
Atman
The inner spirit dwelling in every living thing, I including animals; it is the eternal, indestructible and perfect spirit in everyone
Bhagavad Gita 2.12
‘Never was there a time when I did not exist, nor you nor all these kings; nor in the future shall any of us cease to be.’
Bhagavad Gita 2.17
‘That which pervades the entire body, know it to be indestructible. No one can cause the destruction of the imperishable soul.’
What are the two different views on atman?
Advaita Vedanta - Brahman is identical to the Atman, Brahman is everywhere and inside each living being, and there is connected spiritual oneness in all existence
Dvaita Vedanta - Brahman is different from Atman (soul) in each being. Hindus believe we become separate from Atman and Brahman when we become lost in Maya (the world of illusions, change, unreality) - this causes us to act selfishly, not as if we are one with reality.
Karma
Law of cause and effect; destiny
For hindus, karma means the consequences of actions, but a persons destiny is not decided already. Hindus know they have freewill to decide their path in life. They have a moral responsibility to make right decisions. Karma means that good and bad actions are judged by an absolute and inescapable moral law that governs the universe.
Samsara
The endless cycle of death and rebirth
Reincarnation
The belief that when you die you can be reborn again on earth
Moksha
For Hindus the main goal of life is release from the cycle of rebirth (samsara) which can be like a set of chains being broken. This escape from samsara is called moksha. Hindus hope to achieve moksha by building up good karma
During moksha the atman or soul is released and returns to brahman - the supreme spirit. Hindus believe the soul was part of brahman to begin with and so must return
Bhagavad Gita 2.15
‘O Arjun, noblest among men, that person who is not affected by happiness and distress, and remains steady in both, becomes eligible for liberation’
