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Sanatana Dharma

The Eternal Way of Life (Hinduism)

Brahman , Atman and

Maya

The Hindu Way of Comprehending Reality and Life

Early Vedic Deities

u The Aryan people worship many deities through sacrificial rituals: v Agni—the god of fire v Indra—the god of thunder, a warrior god v Varuna—the god of cosmic order ( rita ) v Surya—the sun god v Ushas—the goddess of dawn v Rudra—the storm god v Yama—the first mortal to die and become the ruler of the afterworld

The Meaning of Sacrificial Rituals

u Why worship deities? u During the period of Upanishads, Hindus began to search for the deeper meaning of sacrificial rituals. u Hindus came to realize that presenting offerings to deities and asking favors in return are self-serving. u The focus gradually shifted to the offerings (the sacrificed). u The sacrificed symbolizes forgoing one’s well-being for the sake of the well- being of others. This understanding became the foundation of Hindu spirituality.

From Deities to Brahman

u Around the late Vedic period and the early Upanishadic period, as Hindus searched for the deeper meaning of sacrificial rituals, the focus gradually shifted from the Vedic deities to the unified reality and order— Brahman.

Brahman —that from which everything grows

u The root of the term “Brahman” is brih , which means “to grow.” u Brahman is that from which everything grows. u Brahman —Being, the ground of being, the divine, God u Brahman appears as phenomena ( maya ) in the universe.

The Formed Brahman

u The Formed Brahman v saguna Brahman (the Brahman with attributes) v the creative power of the universe v the foundation of being—the foundation of the phenomenal world v personified as deity v the object of worship

The Formless Brahman

u The Formless Brahman v nirguna Brahman (the Brahman without attributes) v cannot be described in words v neti, neti (not this, not this) v free from all limiting conditions v above good and evil

Manifestations of Brahman

u an analogy: Beautiful phenomena are manifestations of beauty. Beauty is what each beautiful phenomenon really is. Creation is not the making of a separate thing, but an emanation of Himself. God creates, constantly sustains the form of His creations and absorbs them back into Himself.”

Atman —the True Self

u “ Atman ” is just a term used to designate what a maya truly is. u “my Atman” = “my true self” = “what I truly am” u Just like every phenomenon in the universe, a person is a manifestation of Brahman.

That art Thou

u Brahman is what each phenomenon truly is. u Each person is really Brahman. u This is the most important teaching from the Upanishads. The Brahman- Atman Diagram illustrates that we are one but appear as many.

Atman ≠Individual Souls

u In western religions, it is commonly believed that each of us has an individual and different soul. u Some textbooks use “soul” as the translation of “Atman”. But this can be misleading and cause misunderstanding. u The phrase “my Atman ” should be read as meaning “what I truly am.” u Since Brahman is what each one of us truly is, my Atman is Brahman and your Atman is also Brahman.

Hindu Spirituality

u We are manifestations of Brahman. u This means that at the deepest level, we are Brahman , and not individuals. This provides a ground for universal love in Hinduism. u Your pain and sorrow is my pain and sorrow; your joy and happiness is my joy and happiness.