Neti Neti Series No. 16: Exploring the Relationship Between Atman and Brahman

Question:

In Advaita Vedanta, we often hear that Atman is Brahman. But considering that Atman might be seen as a purified reflection of Brahman—similar to how the Buddha is an emanation of the Dharmakaya—would it be more accurate to say that Atman is an expression of Brahman rather than being Brahman itself?

Dear friend,

Your reflections on the relationship between Atman and Brahman in Advaita Vedanta, and how it might be understood in light of the Buddha’s relationship with the Dharmakaya, open up a rich field of contemplation. You have touched upon a subtle aspect of the teaching that invites us to explore the nature of the self and the ultimate reality in a deeper and more nuanced way.

In Advaita Vedanta, the teaching that “Atman is Brahman” seeks to convey the profound truth that the individual self and the ultimate reality are not two separate entities but are, in essence, one and the same. This realization of non-duality (Advaita) is the heart of the teaching, where all distinctions between self and other, between the individual and the absolute, dissolve into the unity of pure awareness.

And yet, your suggestion that Atman might also be seen as an “expression” or “reflection” of Brahman resonates with a certain truth. Just as the Buddha is an emanation of the Dharmakaya, so too can we understand Atman as the individual manifestation of Brahman within the world of forms and experiences. This view allows us to appreciate the functional relationship between the individual self and the universal reality, while still holding to the ultimate truth of their non-difference.

Consider, if you will, the metaphor of reflection—a mirror that reflects the light of the sun. In this metaphor, Atman, when purified and free from the distortions of ignorance, reflects the light of Brahman, revealing the true nature of the self as non-different from the absolute. Until this purification occurs, the mind perceives itself as separate, much like seeing many reflections of the same sun in different bodies of water.

In this way, Atman can be understood as a perfect reflection of Brahman, a reflection that becomes clearer and more accurate as the mind becomes more purified, more aligned with the truth of its own nature. This does not negate the teaching that Atman is Brahman but rather enriches it, providing a way to understand the process of realization as one of aligning the individual self with the universal reality it reflects.

And yet, in the ultimate sense, the teaching of Advaita Vedanta invites us to move beyond all distinctions, beyond all metaphors, to the direct experience of unity. In this experience, the individual self dissolves into the infinite, and what is realized is that Atman and Brahman are not two, but one. The idea of expression or reflection fades away, leaving only the undivided awareness that is the true nature of all things.

Dear friend, your reflections invite us to dwell in the mystery of this teaching, to explore the nuances of what it means to realize that “Atman is Brahman.” It is a realization that goes beyond words, beyond concepts, into the heart of what is real and true. Continue to contemplate this truth, and let it guide you ever deeper into the understanding of your own true nature.

🙏🕊️🙏