Re: Relationship between Atma(spirit) and the Body.
Originally Posted by
nirotu
Hi folks!
Just occurred to me! What is the relationship between Atma and manifested material body? Here is my point! Advaitins do seem to claim non-reality of the matter and its derivatives. Obviously, this lends itself to a conclusion that Atma alone is real without any attachment or relationships. If it is so, why at death the Atma that is liberated does get reincarnated? Why does it have to bear the burden of sins of material body even after being liberated?
Join in!
Blessings,
Namaste Nirotu,
No dear Nirotu, it did not probably just occur to you. You have continued discussion on this aspect, as long as I know you.
As has already been clarified by my esteemed friends, your premises are different. Advaitins do not claim anything that is not there is shastras. It is Gita which says: "Atman Na lipayate". Your basic premise that 'Atma gets liberated ---' is faulty, since Atma never got into such trouble. It is just a conditioned reflection of Atma that plays on.
Since western science and christianity cannot see atma as different from the manifested mind/minds, you have a lot of problem. Hindu scriptures, on the other hand, state: a) Atman is advaita and unchangeable and b)Atman built Purusha from the waters (Aitreya Up). All these that you see, including your own body are objects made up of consciousness and are in Purusha and not in Atman. But when stilled, the mind is one and is able to reflect the identity of divine purusha (the Universe) and the Atman.
How can Atman, which is spiritual and subtle, and is beyond grasping, come in touch with the physical and get mixed up? And if it were to get contaminated, then the dictum of the Upanishad that the 'Atma is unchangeable' would be falsified.
Moreover, if you think that God is different from the advaita atman, then you must also concede that God is without an Atman, which is absurd.
Advaita Atman is God.
Om
Last edited by atanu; 09 August 2008 at 07:44 AM.
That which is without letters (parts) is the Fourth, beyond apprehension through ordinary means, the cessation of the phenomenal world, the auspicious and the non-dual. Thus Om is certainly the Self. He who knows thus enters the Self by the Self.
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