individual beyond identification with phenomena, the essence of an individual. In order to attain salvation ( liberation ), a human being must acquire self-knowledge (atma jnana ), which is to realize that one's true self (Ātman) is identical with the transcendent self Brahman (or paramatman ): http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/%C4%80tman_(Hinduism ) __________________ "Shivasya hridayam