Image of the Human Person (Leaving Cert Religious Education): Revision Notes
Image of the human person
Atman - the eternal self
Atman is a Sanskrit term that refers to the 'real self' or 'inner self' according to Hindu belief. This concept represents the eternal, spiritual essence that exists within all living beings.
Key characteristics of atman
The nature of atman is described in Hindu scriptures as eternal and unchanging. Unlike the physical body, which experiences birth and death, the atman never comes into existence and never ceases to exist. It exists beyond the limitations of time and continues after the physical body dies.
The atman represents the fundamental spiritual identity that transcends physical existence. While our bodies age and eventually die, Hindu belief teaches that this inner essence remains constant and indestructible throughout all lifetimes.
Hindus understand atman as the true, spiritual self that is made of the same divine essence as Brahman, the ultimate reality. However, there are different perspectives on the exact relationship between atman and Brahman within Hindu traditions.
Different beliefs about atman and Brahman
Some Hindu traditions teach that atman and Brahman are essentially the same - that the individual soul is identical to the universal divine spirit. This view suggests that since Brahman is all-powerful and present everywhere, if atman were exactly the same as Brahman, then individual souls would also be supreme.
Different Hindu Perspectives:
The relationship between atman and Brahman is understood differently across Hindu traditions, leading to rich theological diversity within the religion.
Other traditions maintain that whilst atman comes from Brahman and shares its spiritual nature, it represents only a part or aspect of Brahman rather than being completely identical to it.
Understanding atman through stories
Hindu traditions use various analogies to help explain the invisible, spiritual nature of atman. These stories serve as teaching tools to make abstract concepts more accessible.
The Salt and Water Analogy
A father teaches his son about Brahman by asking him to dissolve salt in water overnight. In the morning, whilst the salt could not be seen, its presence could be tasted throughout the water. This illustrates how the divine spirit, though invisible, pervades everything in the universe as a subtle essence.
Another story tells how atman was created after the universe and travelled to Earth, helping to bring life to new beings. When these physical beings died, their atman remained, continuing beyond bodily death.
Samsara, karma and moksha
The cycle of samsara
Hindus believe that the atman continues through multiple lifetimes in what is called samsara - the ongoing cycle of birth, death, and rebirth. When someone dies, their soul moves into a new body, beginning another life. This process continues through various forms of existence, including plants, animals, and humans.
The movement of the soul from one body to another is called transmigration, whilst the process of taking on a new physical form is known as reincarnation.
Unity of All Life:
Hindu belief teaches that the same soul exists in all forms of life - there is no fundamental difference between the soul in a plant, animal, or human.
Karma and its consequences
The type of life that a soul experiences in its next incarnation depends on karma - the actions performed in previous lives. Karma literally means 'action' and refers to the moral law of cause and effect that governs the universe.
Good actions in one life lead to positive karma, which results in a better rebirth. Conversely, bad actions create negative karma, leading to more difficult circumstances in future lives. This system provides a moral framework where individuals are responsible for their own spiritual progress through their choices and behaviour.
The Moral Universe:
The concept of karma suggests that the universe operates according to moral principles, where every action has consequences that shape future experiences. This creates a system of cosmic justice that spans multiple lifetimes.
Moksha - liberation from the cycle
The ultimate goal in Hindu spirituality is moksha - liberation from the continuous cycle of samsara. Moksha represents the end of the birth-death-rebirth cycle, where the soul finally breaks free from earthly existence.
This liberation can only occur when the soul becomes completely pure and is no longer affected by earthly attachments or desires. Once moksha is achieved, the soul can return to unite with Brahman, returning to its divine source.
The Ultimate Goal:
The concept of moksha provides hope and purpose, showing that the cycle of rebirth is not endless but has a meaningful destination - reunion with the divine.
Key Points to Remember:
- Atman is the eternal, real self that exists in all living beings and continues beyond physical death
- Different Hindu traditions have varying views on whether atman is identical to Brahman or represents part of Brahman
- Samsara is the cycle of birth, death and rebirth that souls experience across multiple lifetimes
- Karma determines the quality of rebirth based on the moral consequences of actions in previous lives
- Moksha is the ultimate goal - liberation from samsara and reunion with the divine Brahman