Brahman facts for kids

This page deals with the Hindu concept of The Supreme Reality. For other uses of this word and similar words, see Brahman (disambiguation).

Brahman is a very important idea in Hinduism. It is a Sanskrit language word. Think of Brahman as the ultimate truth or reality of everything in the universe. It's like the source from which everything comes.

What is Brahman?

Brahman is often described as being infinite. This means it has no beginning and no end. It is also said to be changeless. This means it always stays the same, even as the universe changes around it. In Hindu beliefs, Brahman is the origin of the entire universe. It is not a person or a god in the usual sense. Instead, it is the spirit or essence of everything.

Brahman and the Universe

Imagine the universe as a huge ocean. Brahman would be the entire ocean itself. Every wave, every drop of water, comes from and is part of that ocean. In the same way, everything we see and experience is believed to come from Brahman. It is the foundation of all existence. This idea helps Hindus understand how everything is connected.

Brahman and Atman

In Hinduism, there's another important idea called Atman. Atman is often thought of as the individual soul or self. It's the spiritual part of each living being. A key teaching is that Atman is actually the same as Brahman. It's like a single drop of water from the ocean. That drop is part of the ocean, and it has the same qualities as the ocean. So, your own deepest self (Atman) is connected to the ultimate reality (Brahman). Realizing this connection is a big part of Hindu spiritual journeys.

Understanding Brahman

Brahman is not something you can easily see or touch. It's more of a spiritual concept. Hindus believe that you can understand Brahman through deep thought and meditation. Studying sacred texts, like the Upanishads, also helps. These texts explain that Brahman is beyond all descriptions. It is pure consciousness and bliss. Understanding Brahman helps people find peace and meaning in life.

Images for kids

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  A drop in the ocean: an analogy for Ātman merging into Brahman.

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  Swan (Hansa, हंस) is the symbol for Brahman-Atman in Hindu iconography.

See also

• Hinduism
• Atman

In Spanish: Brahman (divinidad impersonal hinduista) para niños