Which is Real: Matter or Atman? A Journey into the Essence of Existence
There are two parties. One says that there is no soul, that
the idea of soul is a delusion produced by the repeated transit of particles of
matter, bringing about the combination which you call the body or the brain;
that the impression of freedom is the result of the vibrations and motions and
continuous transit of these particles.
There were Buddhistic sects who held the same view and
illustrated it by this example: If you take a torch and whirl it round rapidly,
there will be a circle of light. That circle does not really exist, because the
torch is changing place every moment. We are but bundles of little particles,
which in their rapid whirling produce the delusion of a permanent soul.
The other party states that in the rapid succession of
thought, matter occurs as a delusion, and does not really exist. So we see one side
claiming that spirit is a delusion and the other, that matter is a delusion.
Which side will you take?
Of course, we will take the spirit and deny matter. The
arguments are similar for both, only on the spirit side the argument is little stronger.
For nobody has ever seen what matter is. We can only feel ourselves. I never
knew a man who could feel matter outside of himself.
Nobody was ever able to jump outside of himself. Therefore
the argument is a little stronger on the side of the spirit. Secondly, the
spirit theory explains the universe, while materialism does not. Hence the
materialistic explanation is illogical.
If you boil down all the philosophies and analyse them, you
will find that they are reduced to one or the other of these two positions.
So here, too, in a more intricate form, in a more philosophical form, we find the same question about natural purity and freedom. One side says that the first is a delusion, and the other, that the second is a delusion. And, of course, we side with the second, in believing that our bondage is a delusion.
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Explanation To Above Teaching
Swami Vivekananda, one of India’s most influential spiritual teachers, once posed a profound question: Is the reality we perceive made up of matter, or is it the eternal spirit – the Atman or soul – that is truly real? This question, as simple as it might seem, challenges the very basis of our understanding of existence and has been debated for centuries by philosophers, sages, and scientists alike.
In his teachings, Swami Vivekananda explained that there are two distinct views about what is real. One group argues that only matter exists, and everything we experience is simply the result of physical processes—atoms and particles in constant motion. The other group, however, contends that matter is merely an illusion, a transient form that veils the eternal spirit or soul. Let’s delve deeper into these views with simple examples and wisdom from Hindu scriptures and other great spiritual teachers, so that everyone can grasp this timeless debate.
The Materialist Perspective: Reality as Matter
Imagine you are watching a movie on television. The images on the screen appear to have a story and characters, but they are nothing more than light and sound waves arranged in a particular sequence. According to the materialist perspective, our lives and the universe are much like that movie. The physical world, including our bodies, is just an assembly of particles moving in a precise, mechanical dance.
For instance, consider the example of a torch being whirled around rapidly. As the torch moves, it creates a circle of light. However, if you pause and examine this circle, you will notice that it doesn’t have any independent existence; it is just the result of the moving torch. Similarly, materialists argue that the soul is just an illusion, a by-product of the constant movement and combination of particles in the brain. They suggest that what we interpret as consciousness or freedom is merely the result of the dynamic interactions of matter.
This perspective is often aligned with some branches of Buddhist thought, where the idea is that our sense of a permanent soul is an illusion created by changing physical processes. The analogy is simple: just as the circle of light does not exist apart from the moving torch, the soul does not exist independently but is a fleeting pattern produced by matter in motion.
The Spiritual Perspective: The Primacy of Atman
In contrast, the spiritual perspective, which Swami Vivekananda fervently supported, holds that it is not matter that is truly real, but the spirit—our inner self, our Atman. Swami Vivekananda argued, “I never knew a man who could feel matter outside of himself.” In other words, our only direct experience is of our own consciousness, the inner awareness that gives us a sense of identity and freedom.
Think of it like this: imagine you are listening to your favorite song. The sound waves that reach your ears are physical phenomena, but the music you experience—the emotions, memories, and sensations—is something that comes from within you. You do not perceive the individual atoms or vibrations; you experience the music as a whole. In the same way, the Atman is that inner, unchanging essence, the part of us that is aware and eternal, even as the physical body and the external world change.
The Hindu scriptures, particularly the Upanishads, speak extensively about the Atman. The Chandogya Upanishad famously declares, “Tat Tvam Asi” or “Thou art that,” emphasizing that the individual soul is not separate from the ultimate reality. Similarly, the Bhagavad Gita teaches that the soul (Atman) is eternal, beyond the temporary physical body. As Krishna tells Arjuna, “For the soul, there is neither birth nor death” (Bhagavad Gita 2.20). These teachings stress that while matter is subject to change, decay, and illusion (Maya), the Atman remains constant and ever-present.
The Illusory Nature of Matter
Swami Vivekananda further elaborated that if we try to grasp matter by stepping outside ourselves, we quickly find it elusive. No one can step outside their own experience to see matter in its entirety; all we truly know is our own inner feeling of being alive and aware. He used the analogy of the ever-changing body—a collection of molecules and atoms that appear solid and permanent but are in constant flux. In the same way, what we call matter is nothing but a temporary form, a series of impressions that eventually fade away.
Consider a simple example from everyday life: a rainbow. A rainbow appears vivid and real when seen, but when you try to touch it, you find that it vanishes into thin air. Its beauty is undeniable, yet its substance is ephemeral. This mirrors the concept of matter in that our sensory experiences may be striking and convincing, but they do not reflect the ultimate, unchanging reality of the spirit.
The Advaita Vedanta philosophy, expounded by Adi Shankaracharya, teaches that the world we experience (Maya) is not ultimately real—it is like a dream. When one awakens from the dream, the illusion of the separate, material world disappears, and one realizes the singular, unchanging consciousness that underlies all existence. This philosophy reinforces the idea that matter, despite its apparent solidity, is merely a veil over the eternal reality of the Atman.
Harmony in Duality: Understanding the Relationship
The discussion is not merely about choosing one side over the other but understanding the interplay between matter and spirit. In our daily life, we interact with the material world through our senses and practical experiences. Yet, when we look inward, we find the unshakeable presence of consciousness that guides our actions and gives meaning to our lives.
Take, for example, the simple act of breathing. Physically, breathing is a mechanical process governed by the laws of nature. Yet, it is also intimately connected with the life force or prana that animates us. In yoga and meditation, practitioners learn to control their breath to connect with deeper levels of consciousness. This union of the physical act (matter) with the spiritual experience (soul) illustrates that while the material body is essential for function, it is the spirit that provides life with purpose and awareness.
The teachings of Ramana Maharshi echo this sentiment. He often stated that the search for the self is not an outward quest but an inward journey. “Who am I?” he would ask, urging his followers to turn their attention inward to discover the true, unchanging Self behind the body and mind. This inquiry is a direct challenge to the materialistic view, inviting us to recognize that our true nature is not defined by the transient forms we see around us, but by the eternal spirit within.
The Logical Argument: Why Choose the Spirit?
Swami Vivekananda's argument in favor of the spirit over matter is rooted in both experience and reason. He pointed out that matter, as we perceive it, is not something we can truly experience independently. We only know matter as it appears in relation to our consciousness. Every scientific explanation of matter, despite its precision, relies on indirect observations—we infer the existence of atoms and particles from experiments and instruments, not from direct, personal experience.
On the other hand, the existence of the inner self—the Atman—is undeniable because it is the very medium of experience. Even if one were to doubt everything else, the presence of one’s own consciousness is irrefutable. As Swami Vivekananda eloquently put it, “I never knew a man who could feel matter outside of himself.” This simple yet profound observation underscores the idea that the spirit is more real because it is the very foundation of our experience.
Furthermore, the spirit is seen as the source of all creative energy and the driving force behind the universe. Hindu scriptures often describe the universe as a play (Lila) of the divine, where the spirit manifests as matter, experiences life, and then returns to its original, pure form. In this view, matter is a temporary expression, while the Atman remains the unchanging, eternal reality.
Embracing the Eternal Spirit
In summary, the debate between matter and Atman is not merely an abstract philosophical discussion—it is a quest to understand who we truly are. While matter, with its forms and phenomena, is the canvas upon which life’s drama unfolds, it is the spirit—the Atman—that is the artist and the essence of life. Swami Vivekananda’s teachings encourage us to look beyond the surface of the physical world and to recognize the eternal presence within ourselves.
By reflecting on the words of ancient scriptures like the Upanishads and the Bhagavad Gita, and by heeding the insights of modern spiritual masters such as Ramana Maharshi, we come to see that the truth of our existence lies not in the transient matter but in the timeless, unchanging spirit. The journey to realize this truth is one of self-discovery, meditation, and the realization that our bondage to the material world is merely an illusion—a delusion from which we can awaken to the eternal freedom of the Atman.
In the end, while both perspectives offer valuable insights, the evidence of our own experience points to one conclusion: the spirit is the only thing we can know directly, and it is this inner light that illuminates our path through life. Embrace the spirit, for it is the true reality, and in its light, all illusions of matter fade away.