Category:Atma-tattva
Theme Analysis
This analysis explores the concept of ātma-tattva, or the science of the self. Śrīla Prabhupāda defines ātma-tattva as the essential knowledge of both the individual soul (ātmā) and the Supreme Soul (Paramātmā). He argues that without this specific inquiry, human life is a failure. Humans are born in ignorance (abodha-jāta), and unless they are educated in this spiritual science, all their activities result in "defeat" (parābhava). The analysis contrasts "real education" (understanding the self) with modern technical education (like that of an electrician), which only addresses the temporary body. It also highlights the distinction between the gṛhastha (who cultivates spiritual knowledge) and the gṛhamedhī (who is blind to ātma-tattva and thus wastes life in sleeping and family attachment).
- The Definition: Ātma-tattva is the scientific understanding of the self and the Superself (God). It is the primary business of human life.
- The Defeat: Any activity performed without understanding the self is considered a defeat (parābhava) because it results in the continuation of birth and death.
- Blindness: Materialists are described as apaśyatām ātma-tattvam—those who cannot see the truth of the self. Consequently, they waste their time in sleeping (nidrayā) and maintaining the body.
- Real Education: Modern education creates "educated fools" because it ignores the self. Real education must solve the problem of death and identify the user of the body, not just the mechanics of the body.
- Explore the synthesized essence of this category in this Vanipedia article: Defeat in All Activities - The Consequence of Ignoring Ātma-tattva.
Pages in category "Atma-tattva"
The following 54 pages are in this category, out of 54 total.
A
- A human being should actually be interested in understanding atma-tattva, the truth of atma, the spirit soul, and Paramatma, the supreme soul. Those who are interested in atma-tattva worship the Supreme Personality of Godhead
- Abodha-jata, these rascal fools, born foolish. He does not inquire about the self-realization, so whatever he is doing, it is all defeat, he is spoiling his time, because he does not know. Atma-tattvam, the science of self-realization
- All the foolish persons who are born foolish, all their activities are defeat for them unless they are enlightened to inquire about atma-tattvam
- Although Kamsa is described as a demon, he had good knowledge of the affairs of atma-tattva, the truth of the self
- As explained in the next verse of this chapter (of SB 10.2.11), those who cannot understand atma-tattva (apasyatam atma-tattvam) worship Yogamaya in her different features
- Atma-tattva is the science of both God and the living entity. Both the Supreme Lord and the living entity are known as atma
- Atma-tattva, or spiritual knowledge, will be revealed within the core of a devotee's heart because of his having taken shelter of the lotus feet of a mahajana such as Prahlada Maharaja
- Atmaramanam, self-satisfied. There are two kinds of men: atmarama and apasyatam atma-tattvam (SB 2.1.2) - one who does not know what is the soul and what is the business of the soul
E
- Electrician comes - suppose the power has failed, and he manipulates and brings the power - that is technical education. But real education is different. That is to understand the atma-tattvam
- Everyone is uneducated. Everyone is born rascal and fool. He should be enlightened, elevated, by vijnana-vidhuta. Vijnana-vidhuta-vibhramah. This can be achieved when one is interested in the matter of self-realization. If one is interested. Atma-tattvam
- Except for bhakti-yoga, any method for realization of atma-tattva, or the science of atma, will prove deceptive in the long run
I
- I am not this body - that is the whole scheme of Vedic knowledge. Apasya . . . this is the important point, apasyatam atma-tattvam. Because they do not know what is the necessity of life, therefore they have created so many news
- I love the soul. This is the fact. This is atmavit, atma-tattva-vit. And why I love soul? Because I love Krsna. Soul is part and parcel of Krsna. So why I am so much fond of soul? Because it is part and parcel of Krsna
- If one actually interested in real philosophy, they must come to spiritualism. Atma-tattvam. That is atma-tattvam
- If somebody does not know what is atma-tattva, what is the science of soul, then whatever he is making so-called advancement, that is all defeat
- If this meeting would have been a political leader's meeting, giving all kinds of false hope, millions or billions of people would have come. But because it is a meeting for understanding atma-tattva, or self-realization, nobody will be interested
- In the previous verse (SB 3.15.30) it has been clearly mentioned that the Kumaras were liberated persons. Viditatma-tattva means "one who understands the truth of self-realization."
- In this material world I have to protect myself. Nobody can give me protection. Therefore how I can take protection? That is atma-tattvam. That is understanding Krsna. That is Krsna consciousness movement
M
- Maharaja Rahugana concluded that it was appropriate to ask him about atma-tattva, the spiritual science. Tad-vijnanartham sa gurum evabhigacchet (MU 1.2.12). This Vedic injunction is also confirmed herein - SB 5.10.19
- My point is that our philosophy, Krsna consciousness philosophy, is meant for understanding atma-tattva
O
- One should therefore be eager to understand the science of the soul (atma-tattva). Unless one comes to the platform of atma-tattva, by which one understands that the soul and not the body is oneself, one remains on the platform of ignorance
- One who cannot see atma-tattva, the science of soul, they are busy only in this material body. Grhesu grha-medhinam. So grhamedhi and grhastha. Grhastha is good. Grhastha is interested in atma-tattva
- One who does not understand the truth of self-realization is called ignorant, but one who understands the self, the Superself, their interrelation, and activities in self-realization is called viditatma-tattva
- One who is attached to this compact position, packed up in the body or within this universe, they are called grhamedhi. Apasyatam atma-tattvam grhesu grha-medhinam. They cannot see what is atma-tattva, self-realization
P
- Persons devoid of atma-tattva do not inquire into the problems of life, being too attached to the fallible soldiers like the body, children and wife. Although sufficiently experienced, they still do not see their inevitable destruction
- Persons devoid of atma-tattva do not inquire into the problems of life, being too attached to the fallible soldiers like the body, children, wife, etc. Although sufficiently experienced, still they do not see their inevitable destruction
- Persons who are devoid of the knowledge of atma-tattva are misguided, but those who are devotees of the Lord and have perfect realization of transcendental knowledge are not bewildered
- Progress from animal life is when we are interested in this atma-tattvam. When we are interested with atma-tattvam
- Puranjana, the living entity, is asking the unknown girl where she has come from, what her business is, why she is present, etc. These are inquiries about atma-tattva - self-realization
S
- Samadhi means - fixed mind. The Vedic dictionary, the Nirukti, says, samyag adhiyate 'sminn atmatattva-yathatmyam - When the mind is fixed for understanding the self, it is called samadhi. BG 1972 purports
- So long they do not come to this platform of understanding atma-tattva, whatever rascal they are doing, simply defeat, that's all. Parabhava. Simply frustration and defeat
T
- The karmis are more or less devoid of atma-tattva knowledge, and as such, their life is spent without spiritual profit
- This (who do not know the spiritual value of life, can be satisfied with external material opulences, but those who are atma-tattva-vit are not inspired by material opulence) is the instruction we can derive from the life and activities of Saubhari Muni
- Those men who are too materialistic are unaware of this knowledge (atma-tattva) and are more inclined to economic development for material enjoyment
- Those who are apasyatam atma-tattvam, who cannot see, who cannot understand, who cannot vision what is atma-tattvam, what is their business? How they are wasting time? Sukadeva Goswami says nidraya, by sleeping. By sleeping
- Those who are not atma-tattva-vit, who do not know the spiritual value of life, can be satisfied with external material opulences, but those who are atma-tattva-vit are not inspired by material opulence
- Those who are not interested in the science of soul, atma-tattva, but they are interested only in the science of body and mind, they are grhamedhi. Grhamedhi. They are not grhastha
U
- Understanding of the Supreme person is called atma-tattva-avabodhena, which means "understanding of one's real constitutional position"
- Unfortunately, after so-called education also, we remain fools and rascals. Because we do not know . . . there is no educational system to understand atma-tattvam. Atma-tattvam. The human life is meant for understanding atma-tattvam
- Unless one comes to this point of understanding atma-tattva, one remains in the darkness in which he was born. Under the circumstances, no one can understand the plan of the Supreme Personality of Godhead
W
- We are born all fools and rascals, abodha-jata, without any sense. So we require education. What is that education? Atma-tattvam
- We are sitting here in this room, apartment. Others are sitting. We are trying to cultivate atma-tattvam, self-realization, and little chanting; but others, they cannot tolerate, because they are grhamedhi
- We have got so many books, so many newspapers, so many magazines, we hear and read. But we are not interested in hearing Bhagavad-gita or Srimad-Bhagavatam, where atma-tattvam, the science of soul, is described
- We have got this body, and as soon as the body is finished, everything is finished. That means they do not know atma-tattvam. On this misconception of life they are inventing so many - isms
- Who has got many subject matter for hearing? Now, apasyatam atma-tattvam: those who are blind, those who cannot see what is the purpose of life. For them. For them