Brahman and Atman in the Upanishads: Meaning and Philosophy
Brahman and Atman in the Upanishads: Ultimate Reality and the Self Bharatiya Gyan Vigyan Gurukul Vedic Studies – Beginner Level | Lesson 12 Reading Time: 15–18 Minutes 1. Introduction The Upanishads represent an important stage in the development of Indian philosophical thought. They explore fundamental questions about existence, consciousness, knowledge, the self and ultimate reality. Two central concepts in Upanishadic philosophy are Brahman and Atman . Brahman is commonly understood in many Upanishadic traditions as ultimate reality or the fundamental principle underlying existence. Atman generally refers to the self or the deepest principle of individual existence. The relationship between Brahman and Atman became one of the most important subjects in later Indian philosophy, particularly in the Vedanta traditions. Different philosophical schools interpret this relationship differently. Therefore, it is important to study the original Upanishadic ideas as we...