Atman means Self or soul, the essence of our being as pure consciousness. It is common to all living things and encompasses the entire universe.
In the modern world, psychology dominates our thinking relative to thoughts and emotions, self and ego and has its influence on how we perceive spirituality and yoga as well.
Spirituality is about the pursuit of Self-knowledge and Self-realization. There are attempts to turn this into a kind of psychological self-knowledge, analysis of human emotions as a major factor. But Self-knowledge in the sense of Atman is something more than that.
There are modern attempts to psychologicalize spirituality. On the positive side, it can help to spiritualize psychology, bringing yoga and meditation into a psychological approach. But on the downside, it can confuse spirituality and yoga with mere human psychology.
It can reduce the self or spiritual soul into the limitations and concerns of the ego and outward nature as a mere social or political entity.
Beyond the Psychological Self to the Cosmic
Our true self is not a psychological self, which is an ego that must be discarded in order to shine. The true self is not the personal identity of this particular incarnation. It is not a self-construction of our personal emotions or likes and dislikes. Nor is it our mental or intellectual identity through our opinions, beliefs, and thought processes tendencies. It is not even our human self, but our soul that unites us with all beings and all worlds. The Self or Atman is the God or Divine principle.
The self is the principle of subjectivity, consciousness, and self-existence inherent in all existence.
This is the main principle behind all the laws, principles, and dharmas operating in this miraculous universe of mind and matter.
Our true self is divinity, God as he really is, the Divine power behind the manifestation of time, space, and cause and effect. God is our true nature. But this Godhead is not a theological principle but a self-conscious, self-determining, self-responsible essence of existence. This Atman or Self is Brahman or Absolute Happiness-Awareness-Existence.
The yoga approach is very important and Tantra is approaching our true Self as Gods. This is to honor the Divine presence within, to honor our own being and consciousness as something sacred, eternal, and unsullied.
From the point of view of the psychology and spiritual systems that use it as a foundation, such self-worship of the self can appear as worship of the ego, the abandonment of our personal faults, and our responsibility to others, a fantasy to cover up facing the difficult realities of the emotional nature. But such psychological reductionism can also be rigid and can cut off the roots of inner aspirations and ideals.
An important law of mind is that whatever we focus our attention on is what we become. As it were, the Divinity we aspire to. The danger in fixating on the neurotic psychological self is that we eventually become that, we can get lost in an endless obsession with its idiosyncrasies, traumas and idiosyncrasies. We can strengthen ourselves psychologically instead of letting go.
We must learn to revere the true Self within ourselves as the Self of all beings and the Being behind all existence, as the light of all worlds. It can take us in an instant beyond human problems and attachments. Our problem is inherent in a psychology that focuses on personal identity as true reality. We cannot transcend them without opening ourselves up to what is within us that transcends them. This is the universal Self within.
To do so we must set aside the psychological self, which also learns to see it as a formulation of universal forces, elements and qualities, not as something unique to oneself. All nature works within and moves externally according to the glory and beauty of the Self within.
The psychological self is just another formation of energy and natural expression, but it is blocked by a deeper reality.
Of course, we all have a psychological self just as we all have a human body. But focusing on the psychological self will do no more to bring us to the truth than focusing on our physical body brings us to pure consciousness. We must give the psychological self its proper place in our lives as a mechanism of personal existence but not confuse it with our true reality.
Freedom of the Atman
Feel free to put yourself aside and become one with all. Feel free to let go of likes and dislikes, joys and sorrows, and find satisfaction within yourself beyond all gains and losses.
Feel free to go beyond the human self and find yourself in nature, in plants, rocks, animals, in the clouds, the sun and stars, and so on.
Let the sense of self develop naturally like the wind through the release of the breath to the most distant horizons. Unite the light of the mind and senses with the light of the sun and stars.
Our true self is the pure light of consciousness beyond body and mind.
This gives light, life and love to all beings and brings beauty and happiness to the whole universe. Accept that light within and cease to dwell in its shadow in the outer realm.
Learn to worship the true Self within through Meditation . Just as we offer flowers or prayers to the Divinity of your choice, do so to the Self as the inner divinity. See Devata in ourselves and our Self in Devata. Let Shiva, Devi or whatever form of deity you worship reflect in yourself. The Devatas are more of your true Self than your psychological Self. Learn to be one with the Atma Devata in all Devata. Let the true Self be all Gods and Goddesses, Gurus and Avataras, who are only their manifestations. Unlock Divine existence and beauty with courage and joy. Be yourself as a God or Goddess which is the deepest reality and true dignity as pure consciousness in manifestation.
