uh
now you see this issue about what is atman what is paramatman how do we define them and what
is the relationship is very central in hindu philosophy in fact all the acharyas we've had
starting from adi shankara ramanuja matawa etc all of them have been tussling with this issue
this question in fact this is how you have all these different acharyans within hinduism the last
thousand years tackling this issue what is going on i'll give you my take what is my personal
feel like ideology how how do i see this issue you see first of all the word atman is very difficult
to encapsulate to understand what is meant by akhman you see it in all the scriptures everywhere
you ask any hindu especially your parents what is atman there's a vegetable or illegal
no idea they're struggling the word itself is you know they will say every scripture will
have our atman and brahman and i said what is the word what is it that's we don't know it's
just something just reading the scripture and we recite the poetry and the verses so what is this
when you really try and explore the word atman what it actually means
there are certain handles that you can use to try and grab this thing called atman
in the three handles the hindus are using there are more than three but the three that really
you know stands out are the ones that motherboard mentioned the nearest words you have in in the
vocabulary that will allow you to try and get a handle on the word on the concept of atman is
consciousness it is of the nature of consciousness so this idea comes as a sorry as
party in this in the sanskrit vocabulary this is one handle you have the thing that we possess
that seems to be very close to our being we are conscious our consciousness seems to be central
that's my own being consciousness so the word says hinduism says the word consciousness in a
way is hiding this concept of atman it appears the nearest word is consciousness that's one
the second word that gives a handle on this concept of atman is the word existence existence
is such a casual word everything exists there's a cup of tea this is here there's
a glass there's no glass so what's the big deal for existence no no no
what appears as a casual word that we use in our casual life is hiding the secret of the atman
existence it is of the nature of existence says in the tradition as the existence
the word became existence in english it actually is literally from the word
sat and then existence so existence is the nature of atman the fact that existence
exists without such a straightforward word no that is not this is the threading thing we exist
that takes you to the heart of reality you are that that's the second part the third part is
the sweetie it says the third aspect of the word the third handle we have on the word atman is it
is of the nature of bliss be careful please doesn't mean pleasure pleasure you get from
ice cream especially meat chocolate ice cream i love it that is not bliss that is pleasure
the senses get excited in a positive way and we feel yes i want more and that is not bless bliss
is something dramatically different from pleasure and pain it transcends both pleasure and pain
and that is something that is within us it is when we as we see our center of gravity notice
pleasure and pain but we focus back on the bliss then we are in a way freed from this chasing after
pleasure or running away from pain we recognize our dignity as blissful again how do i know these
things when religion becomes experiential when you actually experience what is this atman about
this is what happens you feel first of all you feel a thrill i exist it's always this what's the
simple thing no when you experience the spirit the word existence the
god catches you i exist your your hair on your body stands on end
and you feel a tremendous bliss flowing from through your system more pleasure
bliss flowing through your system you feel ah excited this is bless this is not pleasure it is
something dramatically different from pleasure we are trying to find bliss by searching for pleasure
without pleasure is what you're looking no it's place what you are searching for the three words
existence consciousness and bliss are central if you like the best way
if you can use to try and capture what is meant by athman but again look these are just
words the reality is it is experiential words fall by the wayside this is the best we can do when we
are trying to converse about your talk about it we use the next nearest words this is if you like
the definition about atman now by definition there is no limitation existence is existence
and bliss is bliss so the by by definition atman is actually you know logically
no different from how we define paramatman a superior athman a special atman and the
hindus have brought in the word paramatman for a particular reason i'll mention two in a minute
now i can say i am the atman i talk about bliss and existence and um and that if i'm in
that state actually i'm experiencing myself as the atman i have no interest in paramatman but
the moment i don't experience myself as the atman but as this individual say what's going on around
here then i'm stuck at one is just words so then i conjure up this marvelous chap called parmatman
as i can't grab hold of this thing called atman i have not projected this idea of paramatman is if
you like not just an ordinary atman but a superior atman for me to focus my mind to grab this atman
i produce parmatman because then what i do is i can then build relationship with this paramatman
is always a chap outside me not me outside me so i can build relationships i got some tools
to progress spiritually in order for you to progress spiritually the thing that
you are searching for you need to project it outward and then build relationship with it
that is paramatman now this is purely adi shankara's interpretation watch it adi shankara
the first acharya famous acharya who brought back hinduism to india otherwise hinduism was
knocked out in addis shankar with this very high philosophy approach was able to breathe you know
give reaper to hinduism no don't underestimate the power of the man but then you see
this is philosophically satisfying but not practical when you say i am atman i am the
paramatman i am the same one and only this is philosophy it is philosophically satisfying
but is impractical you will find hardly one i have not met one single advaita vedanti advaiti
means i am the atman who is actually experienced athman so this guy is just living in a dream world
i would rather link with a person who says i love god as per mahatma and i am devoted to him because
he's got his teeth into the system and he makes progress the guys i'm atman just just is hot air
and i've met a lot of them i run away from them i don't like them without philosophic giants but
intel but but experientially they're there there are complete duds i rather have a person who says
i love god i love paramatman he is my love love my life he's building he's got his teaching the
system he's using it certain tools to progress it is only at the experiential level that the
distinction between athman and paramat and this disappears at the practical level i am a vishishta
which is not advaith he says i am just a little tinkly little diddler
i am just a spark god is the great fire and by looking at fire i can then recognize my essential
nature to the spirit but to progress i need to be practical not philosophical i'm so clever
what good is that cleverness you know it's better to be practical or pragmatic so for
example i tell you frankly if i'm in the blessed experiencing that i'm the spirit i don't need him
but when i'm not in that state in my daily life i'm chewing my having my cereals i'm in trouble
i could also the pain say i need help so i look at spermatman i feel like if you like
rediscovering myself through some personality this is the difference between atman and brahmatman at
the experiential level of the distinction that demarcation disappears but until you get that
be humble see this is this is be humble until you experience yourself god don't say you are god
that is nonsense say that i am a devotee of god i am just devotee searching for god and that will
allow me to progress otherwise you are sick i am god what more you are not a god you're an idiot
but i'm looking for god you are going to progress my friend that is why we should do it in a way is
the more more pragmatic philosophy even though advaita is philosophically more satisfying
these are the major distinctions beautiful as usual as the most difficult questions
you