Encyclopedia of India–China Cultural Contacts v1.c7.s10.t6.32

v1.c7.s10.t6.32

The other meaning of “Atman” is “Brahman”. Instead of the word “Brahman”, many Upanishads used the word “Atman” in describing Brahman as the source and essence of the material world. And the “Atman” used for this purpose is the so-called “(greater) Self”. *Chāndogya Upanishad* 6.9.4 states that “Now that which is the subtle essence, in it all that exists has its True Self. It is Pure Being. It is Atman, and, O Svetaketu, That thou art.” Verse 7.26.1 of the same book also explains that “When one sees this, thinks this, knows this, one’s breath is of Atman; one’s hope is of Atman; one’s memory is of Atman; one’s space is of Atman; one’s fire is of Atman; one’s water are of Atman; one’s appearance and disappearance are of Atman; one’s food is of Atman; one’s strength is of Atman; one’s understanding is of Atman; one’s meditation is of Atman; one’s intelligence is of the self; one’s will is of Atman; one’s mind is of Atman; one’s speech is of Atman; one’s name is of Atman; one’s mantras are of Atman; one’s actions are of Atman; all this is of Atman.” As we can see, the “Atman” used in the quoted verses refers to the fundamental essence of everything, and therefore has virtually the same meaning as “Brahman”.