In
Hindu and
Jain philosophy,
Atman is the
soul in its natural state. Many believe that individual "personal"
souls exist as an
illusion only, and think of
Atman as the all-pervading
soul of the
universe; the
universal life-principle and animator of all
organisms, and the world-soul.
By contrast, Jiva is the soul in its human state, in which its freedom is limited by the triple bond of anava (ego), karma (action) and maya_(illusion).
See also: anatta nirvana samsara reincarnation
