atman

In Hinduism, the individual soul or the true self, which never changes. The atman is as one with Brahman, the eternal supreme being and impersonal world soul.

Hindus believe that each person has a physical body with senses, a subtle body which thinks and makes decisions, and a third body which is active when people are in deep sleep. These three bodies make up the individual, but the atman survives the death of all of these and continues unchanged. It is aware of everything, but free from all limitations, and is the source of all joy. It is the source of life, which is to be respected in all things. By putting aside ignorance, freedom from karma and release from rebirth can be achieved. The atman will then not be born into a new body. Behind this appearance of birth, the atman and Brahman always were and always will be one.