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[[Atman (आत्मन्)]], in Advaita Vedanta, is the same as Brahman, Pure Consciousness, immanent, transcendent and self-luminous. It transcends the subject-object (कर्त-कर्म) duality and trinity of knower, known and knowledge. Atman is the one who experiences everything, in whose presence alone and for whom all experiences take place. It is the only Reality. The tragedy of human intellect is that it tries to know everything as an object. Whatever can be presented as an object is necessarily relative and changing, for that reason it is Mithya or unreal. To resolve this inherent human problem, our seers have enumerated three ways to identify Atma and overcome ignorance through the process of enquiry (vichara).<ref>Sharma, Chandradhar. (1960) ''A Critical Survey of Indian Philosophy.'' Delhi: Motilal Banarsidass Pvt. Ltd. (Pages 283-286)</ref>

[[Atman (आत्मन्)]], in Advaita Vedanta, is the same as Brahman, Pure Consciousness, immanent, transcendent and self-luminous. It transcends the subject-object (कर्त-कर्म) duality and trinity of knower, known and knowledge. Atman is the one who experiences everything, in whose presence alone and for whom all experiences take place. It is the only Reality. The tragedy of human intellect is that it tries to know everything as an object. Whatever can be presented as an object is necessarily relative and changing, for that reason it is Mithya or unreal. To resolve this inherent human problem, our seers have enumerated three ways to identify Atma and overcome ignorance through the process of enquiry (vichara).<ref>Sharma, Chandradhar. (1960) ''A Critical Survey of Indian Philosophy.'' Delhi: Motilal Banarsidass Pvt. Ltd. (Pages 283-286)</ref>

In Tattvabodha, written by Shri Adisankaracharya, we find the lakshana vakyas (defining words) of Atman as follows,<blockquote>स्थूलसूक्ष्मकारणशरीराद्व्यतिरिक्तः पञ्चकोशातीतः सन् अवस्थात्रयसाक्षी सच्चिदानन्दस्वरूपः सन् यस्तिष्ठति स आत्मा ।</blockquote>That which is distinct from the gross, subtle and causal bodies, beyond the five sheaths, the witness of the three states of experience, that which exists in the form of consciousness and of the nature of existence-consciousness-limitlessness is the Atman.<ref name=":0" />

In Tattvabodha, composed by Shri Adisankaracharya, we find the lakshana vakyas (defining words) of Atman as follows,<blockquote>स्थूलसूक्ष्मकारणशरीराद्व्यतिरिक्तः पञ्चकोशातीतः सन् अवस्थात्रयसाक्षी सच्चिदानन्दस्वरूपः सन् यस्तिष्ठति स आत्मा ।</blockquote>That which is distinct from the gross, subtle and causal bodies, beyond the five sheaths, the witness of the three states of experience, that which exists in the form of consciousness and of the nature of existence-consciousness-limitlessness is the Atman.<ref name=":0" />

In the Taittriya Upanishad, Brahmananda-valli, it is said<blockquote>यो वेद निहितं गुहायां परमे व्योमन् । सोऽश्नुते सर्वान् कामान्सह । (Tait. Upan. 2.1.1)</blockquote>He who knows Brahman located in the innermost recess (cavity), in the Supreme space, Avyakta akasha, or Chidakasha (not the akasha mentioned as one among the Panchabhutas), realizes all his desires with the omniscient Brahman. In this Guha (cavity) are hidden the three categories (knower, known and knowledge) in three kalas (past, present and future) because it is the cause and it is exceedingly subtle. Brahman is placed in this cavity.<ref name=":3">Mahadevan, T. M. P. (1969) ''The Pancadasi of Bharatitirtha - Vidyaranya, An Interpretative Exposition.'' Madras: Centre of Advanced Study in Philosophy, University of Madras. (Pages 27 -)</ref>  

In the Taittriya Upanishad, Brahmananda-valli, it is said<blockquote>यो वेद निहितं गुहायां परमे व्योमन् । सोऽश्नुते सर्वान् कामान्सह । (Tait. Upan. 2.1.1)</blockquote>He who knows Brahman located in the innermost recess (cavity), in the Supreme space, Avyakta akasha, or Chidakasha (not the akasha mentioned as one among the Panchabhutas), realizes all his desires with the omniscient Brahman. In this Guha (cavity) are hidden the three categories (knower, known and knowledge) in three kalas (past, present and future) because it is the cause and it is exceedingly subtle. Brahman is placed in this cavity.<ref name=":3">Mahadevan, T. M. P. (1969) ''The Pancadasi of Bharatitirtha - Vidyaranya, An Interpretative Exposition.'' Madras: Centre of Advanced Study in Philosophy, University of Madras. (Pages 27 -)</ref>  

== अवस्था-त्रय-विवेकः ॥ Avastha-traya viveka ==

== अवस्था-त्रय-विवेकः ॥ Avastha-traya viveka ==

In the process of enquiring and understanding about the avastha-traya (अवस्था-त्रयम्) we are lead to the knowledge of Atman. One can deduce whether Atman has the attributes of the waking state to assume the status of being a waker, whether it has the attributes of the dream to become the dreamer, or sleep to be the sleeper, or is free from all these attributes. As defined in Tattvabodha, Atman is अवस्थात्रयसाक्षी i.e., it is free from all the attributes of these states, and is a witness to all three states of experience, called as avastha-traya-saakshin. It is distinct from all the shariras, and all three states of experience.

In the process of enquiring and understanding about the avastha-traya (अवस्था-त्रयम्) we are lead to the knowledge of Atman. Tattvabodha, Gaudapada Karikas, and the Mandukya Upanishad are good sources to explore the avastha-traya-viveka prakriya and their relation with the three shariras in detail. One can deduce whether Atman has the attributes of the waking state to assume the status of being a waker, whether it has the attributes of the dream to become the dreamer, or sleep to be the sleeper, or is free from all these attributes. As defined in Tattvabodha, Atman is अवस्थात्रयसाक्षी i.e., it is free from all the attributes of these states, and is a witness to all three states of experience, called as avastha-traya-saakshin. It is distinct from all the shariras, and all three states of experience.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The four quarters are depicted below with their characteristics. It should be noted that Atman here is present in all other three states also, which is the Sat that is required as an ashraya for all other three states to be displayed.

=== Sharira-traya ===

=== Sharira-traya ===