Ātman-Brahman

Ātman-Brahman is a cornerstone idea in Hindu religions, texts, and philosophies that Ātman (innermost self or essence) and Brahman (unchanging and eternal ultimate reality) are one and the same, or simultaneously different and non-different. This Ātman-Brahman synthesis is central to the Upanishads and various other traditions, such as Advaita Vedanta.

In the Upanishads, Brahman is either identical to Ātman or a part of Brahman without being identical to it. Other perspectives include dualistic and nondualistic interpretations of Ātman-Brahman. Among the non-dualistic interpretations is Advaita Vedanta, which believes that Brahman is divine and identical to Ātman, as well as nirguna (without attributes), eternal, love, "being-consciousness-bliss".

The Ātman-Brahman synthesis is rejected by nāstika traditions, such as Buddhism and Jainism, which reject the existence of a universal, unchanging Ātman.

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