Hinduism: "Being" Brahman, Atman and Moksha

To be immanent something is inherent, inseparable, existing or operating within. Related to theories of the Devine, in this context, the word suggests that it can be found in the material world. Transcendent would be considered the opposite of immanent, something beyond the material world that exists outside of what’s considered a human experience. In relation to Devine, it may suggest that it sets itself apart from limitations of our world, beyond physical laws, and potentially beyond comprehension. While immanent suggests the Devine is always present and accessible in the material world, transcendent is a state of being where one is independent of limitations. It can be achieved through prayer, ritual or meditation.

The goal of classical Hinduism is to achieve Moksha, liberation from the cycle of death and rebirth (Samsara). The idea is that no matter the good you do in this life you will ultimately die. With any good you do there will always be bad, but hopefully your karma, or cosmic bank account, will help an individual achieve Moksha, even if over several lifetimes. Perfecting dharma during your lifetime (i.e. living a “correct” life though ethics, ritual, class and time period) will help make order in the universe possible. Comparing immanent and transcendent to the goals of Hinduism makes sense. Dharma is something you can achieve in the material world, immanent, because the concept is based on behaviors found in the material world. Moksha is something you may not achieve in one particular life therefore it can be transcendent. To quote Chandogya Upanishad, “All these creatures here, once they have emerged into Being do not know they have emerged into Being. Whatever they are in this world, whether tiger or lion, wolf or boar, worm or moth, gnat or fly, that they become again.”

Brahman is overall function of the universe and everything in it. Brahman gives life but is not a person. It didn’t necessarily create the universe but has all the wisdom of “god”. It cannot be exactly defined or have a specified beginning. Brahman can be described as “sat-cit-ananda” the highest reality (being, conscious, bliss). It transcends earthly being. Atman is more localized than Brahman and could be considered the essence of each human, or their soul. Atman is your true self. To quote Brhadaranyaka Upanishad, “He looked around, saw nothing but Himself. The first thing he said was, ‘It is I,’ hence I became His name. Therefore even now if you ask a man who he is, he first says, ‘It is I’, and gives what other name he has.” Realizing your “self” and how you connect with everything will help you evolve in your next life reincarnated, an important idea in Upanishad. Realizing your Atman leads to Brahman which leads to Moksha. Atman is immanent in this lifetime.

As it's written in Isa Upanishad, “Into deep darkness fall those who worship only the immanent in the body, and to greater darkness fall those who worship only transcendent spirit,” it is suggesting that you cannot have one without the other. You can’t simply worship your “self” if you don’t understand where your “self” came from, who it is, what it is, where it is going. You can’t worship Brahman if you don’t worship your “self”, as Atman leads to Brahman. They are symbiotic. For example, “Without knowledge, drops into a pit of darkness, as do those who only follow Knowledge without wise action.” This verse is comparing “knowledge” as Atman and “Knowledge” as Brahman. The action refers to the yogas, or religious disciplines you practice. The yogas you practice in your lifetime, “Overcomes even death and with this understanding reaches the level beyond time into immortality.” In the highest state of oneness there is no difference between you and god thus you cannot achieve without worshiping both.