2.2.8

Atman

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Atman

Illustrative background for The UpanishadsIllustrative background for The Upanishads ?? "content

The Upanishads

  • The Upanishads are part of the Vedas. They cover such topics as the nature of God and the nature of existence.
  • The key ideas found in the Upanishads are at the centre of Hindu belief.
  • The Upanishads also teach that Hindus each have an ‘atman’.
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Atman

  • Atman means soul. It refers to the inner self or the individual.
  • An Atman is who a person really is. No matter what changes occur in their appearance as they grow older.
  • Our atman is eternal. It lives on after a person dies, and their body decays.
    • Our atman can then be incorporated into another body.
Illustrative background for BrahmanIllustrative background for Brahman ?? "content

Brahman

  • Atman is identical to Brahman, the ultimate reality.
    • In Hindu belief, the soul longs to be reunited with Brahman.
Illustrative background for MokshaIllustrative background for Moksha ?? "content

Moksha

  • Hindus believe they will be reborn many times.
    • They hope that along the way they will gradually gain more wisdom, live kinder lives, and free themselves from the desire for material things.
  • Once they do, they free themselves from this cycle of rebirth and reach liberation (moksha).
    • The soul becomes perfect and is no longer given a new physical form.
    • The soul is reunited with Brahman.

Jump to other topics

1Year 7

1.1Origins of Abrahamic Faith

1.2Judaism

1.3Christianity

1.4Disciplinary Knowledge

2Year 8

2.1Islam

2.2Hindu Dharma (Hinduism)

2.3Buddhism

2.4Sikhi

2.5Atheism

2.6Philosophy of Religion

2.7Disciplinary Knowledge

3Year 9

3.1Life & Death

3.2Extremism

3.3Equality

4Additional Concepts

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