Questions tagged [atma]

Atma or Atman means our soul (Jivatma) or the supreme soul (Paramatma)

Filter by
Sorted by
Tagged with
12 votes
1 answer
1k views

How and why was the first ever thought generated?

We have certain posts which discuss about how the universe was created OR how Brahman imagined to become from one to many. This Qn is about the situation earlier to that. Anything which is ...
iammilind's user avatar
  • 19.7k
4 votes
0 answers
129 views

How does Advaita interpret the devatas to the Isha Upanishad mantras?

Advaita is a non dual philosophy which says there is no distinction between Jivatma and Paramatma (Brahman). There is only one soul which is Brahman. In the Isha Upanishad or Ishavasyopanishad which ...
Sarvabhouma's user avatar
  • 25.7k
4 votes
3 answers
2k views

How is Buddhism's "Shunyata" (void / Nothingness) interpreted in Hinduism to represent God?

Some time back I got a perception that "Shunyata" (absolute nothingness) of Buddhism and "Me" (ParamAtma / True self) referred by Krishna are same. Because both refer to the ultimate reality in an ...
iammilind's user avatar
  • 19.7k
5 votes
1 answer
735 views

What is the source of "thoughts": Mann(mind), Buddhi(intellect), Atma(the Self)?

Scientifically the thoughts are generated from brain. However in spiritual world, from where do they originate? Also in case if the source of thoughts isn't in one's own control, then why many ...
iammilind's user avatar
  • 19.7k
5 votes
1 answer
154 views

Is meditation the only technique for self-realization?

Apart meditation is there other paths that one can take to understand oneself?
Elfin forest's user avatar
  • 1,305
4 votes
1 answer
192 views

Is the mind a product of maya?

A pure soul is considered to be the same as the Supreme Soul,i.e Brahman.As per my knowledge,I know that the soul consists of: 1.Mind 2.Intelligence(Buddhi) 3.Ego(Ahankar) If a pure soul merges ...
Elfin forest's user avatar
  • 1,305
6 votes
1 answer
549 views

Apart from living beings, does Paramatma exist in atoms of non living material world also?

In Bhagavad Gita, Lord Krishna says that ParamAtma exists in the hearts of all living entities. Question: Does he exist even in atoms of the non living material world?
suri's user avatar
  • 69
7 votes
1 answer
291 views

Who are the Ātivāhikas who guide the soul to heaven or hell?

The Sanskrit term Ātivāhika literally means ‘one who leads beyond’. This Hindupedia article mentions them as the deities or divine guides who lead the jīva to the next destination in its onward ...
Dr. Vineet Aggarwal's user avatar
4 votes
1 answer
245 views

Do Hindu gods have an atman?

I have looked both online and in a library for a source that contained information about this question, but could not find it. Could somebody tell me if Gods have an atman?
user avatar
13 votes
3 answers
3k views

On what basis is a soul born as male or female?

From this question Does a soul have any gender? it is known that soul doesn't have any gender. But when a child is born from mother's womb it does have a gender (male, female, or neuter). So, why is a ...
Triyugi Narayan Mani's user avatar
13 votes
3 answers
2k views

Does a soul have any gender?

Normally we consider Brahma, Vishnu and Mahesh as the Supreme God and as stated below all souls are part of this Supreme soul. yathā sudīptāt pāvakādvisphuliṅgāḥ sahasraśaḥ prabhavante sarūpāḥ ...
Just_Do_It's user avatar
  • 8,860
4 votes
0 answers
908 views

Is the feeling of "Deja Vu", a glimpse of self realization?

As per below post, a philosophy called "Eternal Return" states that all events are repeating infinitely & hence predetermined. Does "Free Will" really exist, even if universe repeats ...
iammilind's user avatar
  • 19.7k
5 votes
1 answer
277 views

What and how many forms of Spirit (आत्मा) are considered?

I was asking someone that why sometimes we call it soul and sometimes as spirit. I found that Spirit (आत्मा) same as the Soul (अन्तरात्मा). And he said jivatma and pretatma are forms of soul in which ...
Kailash Chandra Polai's user avatar
3 votes
2 answers
111 views

Do any of the darshanas believe that Buddhi is the Self?

Descartes supposed have said "I think therefore I am". For him thinking entity is the Self. While Hindu sankhya-yoga system puts, both mind and intellect in products of prakriti/pradhana, separate ...
Aks's user avatar
  • 1,671
3 votes
2 answers
182 views

Which is responsible behind worldly relation?

Which makes relationship (like mother-son or husband-wife)? The body or the Atma? Is there any role of Paramatman in this regard ?
Santanu Debnath's user avatar
2 votes
1 answer
1k views

does the soul go somewhere when we deep sleep? [duplicate]

I listen our soul goes to Yama when we deep sleep and records our every karma daily. I don't think it happens with us and we couldn't know/remember that event
Kailash Chandra Polai's user avatar
4 votes
1 answer
261 views

How do different Astika schools prove the existence of the soul?

There are two kinds of schools of Indian philosophy, Astika and Nastika. Astikas accept the authority of the Vedas, whereas Nastikas reject the authority of the Vedas. The Astika schools are part of ...
Keshav Srinivasan's user avatar
5 votes
1 answer
632 views

What is the size of the soul according to the different Astika schools?

There are two kinds of schools of Indian philosophy, Astika and Nastika. Astikas accept the authority of the Vedas, whereas Nastikas reject the authority of the Vedas. The Astika schools are part of ...
Keshav Srinivasan's user avatar
4 votes
0 answers
291 views

What is Madhvacharya's argument against Brahman being the material cause of the universe?

Madhvacharya is the proponent of the Dvaita school of Vedanta because he doesn't believe that Brahman is the material cause of Jivatmas and Prakriti. But what is his main argument against it?
Ikshvaku's user avatar
  • 22k
5 votes
0 answers
386 views

How do different Vedantic philosophies prove the existence of the soul?

As I discuss in this question, by far the most popular school of Hindu philosophy is the Vedanta school, which bases its tenets on the doctrines laid out in the Brahma Sutras, a work by the sage Vyasa ...
Keshav Srinivasan's user avatar
3 votes
2 answers
235 views

Was there ever a time when I was not there? [duplicate]

My questions are simple(both from advaita and dvaita point of views): Was there ever a time when I was not there? If yes then how did I come into being and from what ? If no then have I lived ...
Dheeraj Verma's user avatar
4 votes
1 answer
219 views

According Advaita philosophy, can the formless Absolute Brahman see, speak, hear and smell? [duplicate]

In the Kena Upanishad following is said about the Absolute Brahman(not Atma...if Atma and Brahman are same then probably I have asked this question before. But in my opinion Absolute Brahman is a ...
Dheeraj Verma's user avatar
4 votes
1 answer
640 views

According to Dvaita philosophy, how does a Jivatma view another Jivatma in Vaikuntha?

As per my understanding, according to Dvaita philosophy Jivatma enters the Vaikuntha Loka but the Jivatma doesn't become Paramatma. It is also known that in Vaikuntha loka the primary duty of Jivatma ...
Dheeraj Verma's user avatar
5 votes
3 answers
1k views

If Parmatma is within me then can I pray to myself?

It is said that Parmatma is within me. And it is also said that prayer to any demigod or ghosts or spirits indirectly goes to Parmatma only. So my question is : Can I pray to myself and receive the ...
Dheeraj Verma's user avatar
2 votes
0 answers
104 views

Every decision is the decision of the soul before birth?

Is it correct to say that it is the soul that takes the decision as to: where to be born? when to be born? which body to select? for how long to stay? what exactly it needs to learn in that birth? ...
Just_Do_It's user avatar
  • 8,860
3 votes
1 answer
1k views

Was Krishna both Jivatma and Paramatma?

I know it may sound foolish but I am little confused. It has been extensively said that Krishna was Parmatma. However Parmatma never takes birth nor does he die. Yet we know that Krishna took birth ...
Dheeraj Verma's user avatar
1 vote
1 answer
185 views

According to Dvaita philosophy , is Parmatma involved in Karma?

Parmatma is not just a witness.In my previous question it became apparent that the Parmatma had certain responsibilities to fulfill. Parmatma is bestower of blessings and punishment. If a person does ...
Dheeraj Verma's user avatar
1 vote
1 answer
689 views

According to Dvaita philosophy, why is Paramatma worshiped?

According to Dvaita philosophy there are two selfs. One is Jeevatma and second is Paramatma. Paramatma is only a witness and has no influence whatsoever on the Jeevatma's karma. Parmatma is revered, ...
Dheeraj Verma's user avatar
12 votes
4 answers
4k views

According to Hinduism, who am I?

I have spent good time understanding what is Atma or Self. Scriptures say Self is in every being and every being is in Self. However if someone asks me "Who am I?" then what should be my response? ...
Dheeraj Verma's user avatar
6 votes
0 answers
187 views

Do subtle and causal bodies have sense organs like ears, eyes, etc..?

As per my understanding, after death if I go to hell then my subtle and causal bodies will suffer and not my Atma. Death causes the cessation of gross body or the Annamaya kosha and the Pranamaya ...
Dheeraj Verma's user avatar
1 vote
2 answers
3k views

Where can I find Atma within me? [duplicate]

As per my understanding,Atman is said to be my true self. When I die my gross body dies but my subtle body remains and reaps the fruits of karma in YamLoka. After which I take rebirth. However the ...
Dheeraj Verma's user avatar
1 vote
2 answers
325 views

Is Atma both the Witness and Non-Witness of existence?

In the question here ,I ask about who performs the actions of our senses ? In reply I have been told that the Atma performs the actions of our senses but is not the experiencer of the fruits of the ...
Dheeraj Verma's user avatar
1 vote
1 answer
360 views

Can Atma be good or bad?

In this extra-ordinary simile from Katha Upanishad ,explains the concept of Atman very well: Know the âtman as the lord of the chariot, the body as only the chariot, know also intelligence as ...
Dheeraj Verma's user avatar
7 votes
1 answer
173 views

Who performs the actions of the senses?

I have been told that Atman doesn't perform the action of the senses. Yet we hear, speak, taste and see things. Also I have been told that the Atman is our true self and is only the witness. So my ...
Dheeraj Verma's user avatar
6 votes
6 answers
3k views

Does Atman hear, speak, taste and see after we die?

It is said that Atman is one's true Self. It remains in existence after we die, for Atman never takes birth nor does it die. My question is : does Atman hear, speak, taste and see after we die? If ...
Dheeraj Verma's user avatar
1 vote
0 answers
138 views

According to Hinduism,what is Atman? [duplicate]

According to Hinduism , what is Atman? What is the role of Atman in the birth , life, death , Nirvana cycle of life?
Dheeraj Verma's user avatar
9 votes
3 answers
627 views

How does the soul control the intellect (buddhi)?

Why does not the soul, that is so powerful, stop the intellect from choosing the wrong path/decision/karma? How does the soul control the intellect (buddhi)?
bhamsoul's user avatar
1 vote
0 answers
50 views

Soul evolution in Hinduism [duplicate]

I'm curious about cultures and religion. As I have been browsing through Wikipedia I have found this: Māyā is also a spiritual concept connoting "that which exists, but is constantly changing and ...
Rares Sabin Rusu's user avatar
3 votes
1 answer
1k views

What are the Hindu beliefs on life after death? [closed]

I'm a highschool student studying the 5 Major world religions and I myself am Catholic. However as apart of an assignment I have, I must interview and collate references from people of the practicing ...
Chloe's user avatar
  • 31
6 votes
1 answer
519 views

What liberation technique taught by Shree Ramana Maharshi?

Ramana Maharshi was an enlightened master from the last century, what technique did he prescribe to know the self or become self realized?
ㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤ's user avatar
10 votes
2 answers
356 views

What causes eternal soul to get embodied into a body and come into material world at all?

Soul is eternal and either part of God(Madhava) or Brahma itself(Advaita).why it comes to this world? According to Christians -original sin and apple story. But according to Hinduism- Avidya or ...
Vikram Thakur's user avatar
3 votes
0 answers
93 views

Do we take Birth with Physical Body in Hell/Heaven?

EXPLANATION : People living in Heaven have Childhood and also Marry and Fight with Humans,Vanaras,etc,.this clears that they have Physical Body. I didn't know whether we take Birth in Hell/Heaven as ...
Sakthi's user avatar
  • 4,168
3 votes
1 answer
366 views

How has the Vedanta school refuted Mimamsa arguments for multiple omnipresent souls?

As I discuss in this question, by far the most popular school of Hindu philosophy is the Vedanta school, which bases its tenets on the doctrines laid out in the Brahma Sutras, a work by the sage Vyasa ...
Keshav Srinivasan's user avatar
3 votes
0 answers
106 views

Did Shabaraswami invent the Mimamsa theory of multiple omnipresent souls?

As I discuss in this question, by far the most popular school of Hindu philosophy is the Vedanta school, which bases its tenets on the doctrines laid out in the Brahma Sutras, a work by the sage Vyasa ...
Keshav Srinivasan's user avatar
7 votes
0 answers
161 views

What happens to the soul if a womb is aborted?

What happens to a soul if the womb is aborted? Does the soul take another birth or it attains salvation?
user avatar
16 votes
3 answers
517 views

Is Atma the same as the body?

What logical arguments do our scriptures advance to show that Atma is not something material like the body? How do the six astika schools of Hindu Philosophy(Mimamsa, Samkhya, Yoga, Nyaya, Vaisheshika ...
DirghaChintayanti's user avatar
4 votes
0 answers
2k views

How could Bharata and Shatrughna be incarnations of inanimate objects?

From this answer, we find Continuing with the tale of Sri Ram, Lord Mahadeva told Parvati–Dasharath requested Vashishth to perform the Jaatkarm Sanskar of Sri Ram. In course of time Kaikeyi gave ...
ㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤ's user avatar
3 votes
0 answers
69 views

regarding some questions on souls [duplicate]

I heard that souls( atma) never born, never died. Its target is unity with paramatma and atma accomplished this through different births. My question: Since total population is increasing then from ...
Santanu Debnath's user avatar
4 votes
1 answer
497 views

Do conjoined twins have same soul?

The picture you see is of - Abigail Hensel and Brittany Hensel, two conjoined twins. Wikipedia- https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Abby_and_Brittany_Hensel Do conjoined twins have different souls? Both ...
user avatar
9 votes
2 answers
2k views

Does Adi Shankaracharya believe the existence of the soul requires scripture to establish?

In Hindu philosophy there are three main Pramanas or valid means of knowledge: Pratyaksha or sensory perception, Anumana or inference, and Shabda or revelation/scripture. And there is a hierarchy of ...
Keshav Srinivasan's user avatar