I am starting on the Stotras on the Atman, which again was composed by Aadi Shankara. The theme of this basically follows the Sri Dakshinamūrti Stotram in a very simple, direct illustration of the attributeless individual Atman.

“The word aham, usually translated as I, is truly the Atman, the one without a second—attributeless. Truth, indestructible even when the whole creation is dissolved, and of the nature of supreme Bliss and Purity. It cannot be referred to as the subtle elements like earth, water, fire, air or sky. Nor can It be referred to as combination or modification of these—the gross body and the senses. The Atman is experiences as persistent consciousness even in deep sleep when the gross body and senses are not recognized.”

This śloka defines that I, philosophically and in truth is the Atman—the eternal Being. What we normally perceive of ourselves as the physical body and senses is not the reality, since they keep changing all the time. The Atman, as an Observer, is awake in us even when we are in deep sleep. That is why on waking up, we are able to recognize ourselves and relate to previous happenings.

This Atman is the same in all of us and is the One we salute on greeting each other with namaste.

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