ATMAN

Once, there was only the Atman. Atman, Pure Existence, Eternal Existence or Truth. That was all. Atman divided Itself into two for the sake of Joy. Man and woman were then born, and all creatures were born.

The question of why we are on this earth is a very important inquiry because this leads to the underlying question: "Who are we?"

If one pursues materialistic success or pleasures, one is ruled by the mind's desires. One then loses oneself and becomes a slave to the desires. In the experiences of this world, there is misery after every happiness, failure after every success. Everything—good and bad—are two sides of the same thing.

One must find out, What is the Truth? "I" is unchangeable by either happiness or misery. If one understands dualism correctly, one is no longer caught up with it and made a slave. One is no longer caught up with experiences as phenomena in this world, regardless of how they might yield happiness or misery, because the Self is the Pure Consciousness that simply knows and sees all. This is Atman. We are all Atman. Atman is the Truth. It is universal. The reason we are on this earth is neither to suffer nor indulge in pleasures but to solely play for play's sake.