Atman and the Essence of Self

Atman and the Self

• Atman refers to the "essence, breath, or soul" in Sanskrit
• The concept emphasizes knowing yourself (Atman = "Know thyself")
• The body, mind, and ego are not the true Self, but the soul
• Suggests a "true self" distinct from our physical, emotional, and psychological selves

Soul

• The immaterial aspect or essence of a human being
• Confers individuality and humanity
• Often considered synonymous with the mind or self
• The part of the individual that partakes of divinity and often is thought to survive the death of the body

Spirituality

• A sense of connection to something larger than ourselves
• Often involves a search for meaning in life
• Connected to big questions about life and identity, such as:
  • Am I a good person?
  • What is the meaning of my suffering?

Rituals

• Religious ceremonies consisting of a series of actions performed according to a prescribed order
• Performed to work with and on behalf of the community and the self
• Considered sacred language

Ceremonies

• Express feelings and beliefs beyond the limitations of speech
• Can be elaborate or simple
• Also considered an act of courtesy

Religion

• An organized system of ideas about the spiritual sphere that people use to interpret aspects of the universe beyond their control

Vedanta Tradition

• One of the traditions in Hindu philosophy
• Focuses on the nature of reality, the self, and the universe
• Teaches that the ultimate goal of life is to realize one's true identity as part of the universal consciousness
• Believes that the Spiritual Self is a non-violent, stable, eternal, and differentiated identity from your body, mind, and feelings

Spiritual Self

• Is a non-violent, stable, eternal identity distinct from the body, mind, and feelings
• A hidden potential for growth and awakening that exists in all beings

True Self

• Believed to be real, permanent, and already present in every unenlightened individual

Cult

• A social group defined by their unusual religious, spiritual, and philosophical beliefs, often centered around a charismatic leader or an ideology

Magic

• Mythic force believed to protect an individual from evil

Witchcraft

• Practice believed to focus on magical skills, spells, incantations, and magical rituals

Viktor Frankl

• Developed logotherapy (healing through meaning)
• Proposed that humans are motivated by a "will to meaning"
• Believed that life has meaning in all circumstances
• Emphasized freedom of choice and personal responsibility
• Emphasized that we can find meaning in life by:
  • Creating a work or doing a deed
  • Experiencing something or encountering someone
  • By the attitude we take toward unavoidable circumstances

Six Basic Assumptions of Logotherapy

• Body, mind, and spirit
• Life has meaning in all circumstances
• Humans have a will to meaning
• Freedom to find meaning
• Meaning of the moment
• Individuals are unique

Hinduism

• The religion of ancient people known as the Aryans
• Includes the concept of karma, an important doctrine
• Karma is the idea that everything you do in your past will eventually come back to you
• Hindus believe the Atman is immortal and continually reincarnated until it reaches a state of Nirvana (non-birth)

Law of Karma

• States that the influence of karma extends through the reincarnation of the soul

Buddhism

• Comes from the root word "budh," meaning awake
• Siddhartha Gautama, also known as the Buddha, is its founder
• The ultimate goal of Buddhism is enlightenment
• Buddha nature refers to the "true self," hidden inside all beings, and capable of blossoming
• Buddha nature is understood to be a universal nature

The Five Parts of the Individual:

• Matter
• Sensation
• Perception
• Mental Constructs
• Depression

Material Self

• The sum total of all that one can call their own
• Composed of one's body, valued possessions, and loved ones
• People often identify themselves most clearly in terms of their material possessions
• Materialism often leads to an orientation that emphasizes ownership of money and possessions for happiness and social progress

Effects of Material Possessions

• Can be used as status symbols
• People use them to measure success
• Can motivate people to work harder
• Loss of material possessions can be disruptive to mental health
• Materialism (excessive desire for material things) can lead to a focus on material things for happiness and social progress.

Materialistic Person

• Someone with a high level of materialism
• Excessively concerned with the acquisition of material possessions
• May be considered a shopaholic

Reducing Materialism

• Setting intrinsic life goals: focus on internal values and personal growth
• Minimalism: a response to the mass consumer culture, focused on living with less
• Utility, simplicity, and financial capacity:
  • Utility: buying only what is truly useful
  • Simplicity: resisting the urge to buy more than you need
  • Financial Capacity: living within your means

Physical Self

• Shaped by genetics and influences body image, self-esteem, and cultural perceptions
• Appearance matters, but true beauty includes inner qualities like kindness and confidence

Two Factors Affecting Physical Growth and Development

• Heredity (biological inheritance from parents)
• Environment includes learning, experiences, and factors such as diet, nutrition, and disease.

How Can Self-Esteem Be Developed?

• Acceptance: lies in the concept of the Buddha-nature
• Finding meaning: Logotherapy proposes that meaning in life can be discovered in three ways
  • Creating a work or doing a deed
  • Experiencing something or encountering someone
  • By the attitude we take toward unavoidable circumstances

Aesthetic Self

• Human nature is drawn to beautiful things

Physiognomy

• Judging a person based on facial expression

Morphopsychology

• Judging a person based on structure

Heredity & Environment

• Play an important role in the physical self

Taoism

• An ancient tradition of philosophy and religious belief attributed to Lao Tzu
• Believes the self is an extension of the cosmos, not of social relationships
• Describes the self as one of the limitless forms of the Tao

Ma'am Jasmine

• An individual referenced in the text
• Her statements highlight the importance of heredity and environment on the physical self

Explore the profound concepts of Atman, the soul, and spirituality in this quiz. Delve into the idea of the true self distinct from body, mind, and ego, and examine rituals that connect us to larger meanings. Test your understanding of these essential spiritual topics!