Atman & Paramatman ~ Path from Self to Supreme
Sanatan Dharma, the timeless spiritual stream of Bharat, does not merely offer a religious outlook but provides a direct, experiential pathway to the Ultimate Truth.
Among its deepest contemplations is the relationship between Atman (individual soul) and Paramatman (Supreme Self). This journey, from perceiving oneself as a limited ego to realizing one’s oneness with the Infinite, is not just philosophical but transformational. It is the heart of liberation (moksha), the core of Vedantic wisdom, and the culmination of human potential.
“The journey from Atman to Paramatman is not about traveling outward; it’s about dissolving the illusion of separation.” ~ Adarsh Singh
What is Atman?
Atman is the indwelling consciousness, the eternal witness beyond the body, mind, and emotions. It is Sat-Chit-Ananda ~ Existence, Consciousness, Bliss.
In the Bhagavad Gita, Lord Krishna affirms:
“The Atman is neither born nor does it ever die… Unborn, eternal, changeless and ancient.”
~ Bhagavad Gita 2.20
Atman is not an entity separate from us; it is us, not the name, not the form, but the light that animates all experience. The body ages, the mind fluctuates, but the Atman remains the same.
What is Paramatman?
Paramatman is the Supreme Soul, the ultimate substratum of the universe. It is Brahman manifesting as the Cosmic Consciousness.
While Atman is the individual Self, Paramatman is the Universal Self ~ omnipresent, omniscient, and omnipotent.
“Paramatman is not far away in some distant heaven. It is the silence behind every thought, the witness within every being.” ~ Adarsh Singh
The Upanishads speak of the Paramatman as the boundless reality in which all beings appear and disappear like waves in the ocean. It is nirguna (without qualities) and nirakara (formless), untouched by time, space, or causation.
Atman and Paramatman: One and the Same?
The rishis of the Vedas declared boldly, “Aham Brahmasmi", I am Brahman. This is not a statement of ego but the dissolution of ego into the vast ocean of truth.
The Chandogya Upanishad teaches:
“Tat Tvam Asi” ~ Thou Art That.
This realization is the spiritual turning point. The Atman is not separate from the Paramatman; rather, it is a reflection of it in the mirror of the mind and body. When ignorance (avidya) is removed, the Self recognizes its true nature, it was always the Supreme.
The Journey: From Self to Supreme
This path isn’t about attaining something new. It’s about removing the veils ~ ignorance, attachment, ego, and desire.
Practices like:
Jnana Yoga (Path of Knowledge),
Bhakti Yoga (Path of Devotion),
Raja Yoga (Dhyana/Meditation),
Karma Yoga (Seva/Selfless Service),
…serve to purify the inner being and prepare the seeker to experience the truth directly.
“When the waves calm, the ocean is visible. Still the mind, and the Supreme within is revealed.” ~ Adarsh Singh
Real-Life Analogy: Pot and Space
Imagine a clay pot. The space inside the pot feels separate. But is it really? Once the pot breaks, the inner space merges seamlessly with the outer. This is the state of liberation (moksha), when the Atman realizes its eternal unity with Paramatman.
The idea that "I am separate" is the root of all suffering. The moment we awaken to our true identity as the Paramatman, the illusion falls away like a dream at dawn. In that stillness, we do not become something, we remember what we always were.
“You are not a drop in the ocean. You are the whole ocean in a drop, waiting to awaken.” ~ Adarsh Singh
Tue Jul 22, 2025
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