Encyclopedia of India–China Cultural Contacts v1.c7.s8.t1.4

v1.c7.s8.t1.4

There are many meanings for “Atman” in Sanskrit, such as self, breath, nature, the whole body and the highest noumenon of human life. In Upanishad, this word is used in two meanings. One meaning of “Atman” refers to self (individual), which is used as the main part of many organs in human’s body or the centre of vital movement, being the so-called “individual”. Another sense of “Atman” means “Brahman”. When discussing Brahman as the noumenon of the world by many Upanishads, “Atman” (I) is only applied instead of “Brahman”. Such kind of “Atman” is the so-called “Collective Self” or “Brahman”. The “Atman” in this kind of Upanishad is the noumenon of everything, which has no difference as that of “Brahman” in its actual meaning.