Ātman (Jainism)

For other uses, see Atman (disambiguation).

Depiction of the concept of soul in Jainism. Golden color represents nokarma – the quasi-karmic matter, Cyan color depicts dravya karma– the subtle karmic matter, orange represents the bhav karma– the psycho-physical karmic matter and White depicts sudhatma, the pure consciousness.

The Atman (/ˈɑːtmən/; Sanskrit: आत्मन्, IAST: Ātman) is a philosophical term used within Jainism to identify the soul. It is one's true self (hence generally translated into English as 'Self') beyond identification with the phenomenal reality of worldly existence. As per the Jain cosmology, atman or soul is also the principle of sentience and is one of the tattvas or one of the fundamental substances forming part of the universe. According to The Theosophist, "some religionists hold that Atman (Spirit) and Paramatman (God) are one, while others assert that they are distinct ; but a Jain will say that Atman and Paramatman are one as well as distinct." In Jainism, spiritual disciplines, such as abstinence, aid in freeing the atman "from the body by diminishing and finally extinguishing the functions of the body." Jain philosophy is essentially dualistic. It differentiates two substances, the self and the non-self.

Real Self

According to the Jain text, Samayasāra (The Nature of the Self):-

Jiva (soul) which rests on pure faith, knowledge, and conduct, alone is the Real Self. The one which is conditioned by the karmic matter is to be known as the impure self.

It also mentions that only arihant and siddha are the real self.

See also

• Ratnatraya- Three Jewels of Jainism
• God in Jainism
• Atma Siddhi
• Atman (Buddhism)
• Atman (Hinduism)