Hinduism is a very profound religion with a rich history and has a lot to offer. Perhaps more correctly put, Hinduism is more of a collective term that encompasses many diverse cultures and practices of the Indian subcontinent region. Needless to say, many spiritual teachings today owe a lot to various Hindu spiritual traditions. It is also a great source for anyone who is curious about its profound spiritual teachings and fascinating stories. One of the core concepts of Hindu beliefs is the idea of Brahman and Atman.
Brahman basically means the ultimate form for all lives, which cannot really be described and can only be experienced. One can perhaps describe it as the universe, the source or some may refer to it as consciousness. In short, it’s the state any spiritual person strives to attain. Atman, on the other hand is the self. It represents each individual such as you and I. Although everyone is perceived as a separate entity, Atman is in essence the same as Brahman. We all derive from the same source which is Brahman. The only difference is that Atman does not realise that it’s really not separate from other Atmans or Brahman.
The goal is for the Atman (the self) to realise it’s not a separate being from Brahman. This is where it becomes fascinating. The implication is that our reality is in fact not what we perceive it to be and that other people are not separate beings. Other people are really just a variation of us. We are all connected to Brahman and it is up to us to explore that aspect. When the Atman realises itself as the Brahman, that’s when liberation happens. As a practical starting point, it’s beneficial for us just to be conscious of this concept in our day-to-day lives.