irit (atman) towards the Ultimate Reality (Brahman). Spiritual and societal development is what is key to attaining the highest of India's societal ideals. With transition, rituals and concepts changed and eventually led to the shift of significance for the Brahmins. The Brahmins were originally the experts of the rituals, but soon adopted a higher influence in the societal laws and moral teachings of the communities. The priests were thought of as all important and that the essence of what they stood for, by giving praise and worship was what was felt needed to try to be attained by all. "Naturally, only those who are of a philosophical temperament can develop a keen power of reasoning by which they can distinguish the real from the unreal, the changing from the changeless. These aspirants must cultivate such disciplines as control over the mind and the senses, which lead to inner calm, forbearance and concentration. By reasoning and uninterrupted contemplation, their ignorance gives way to the realization that the entire universe and all beings are one and the same Brahman. But to reach this ultimate realization requires long preparation and self-discipline." Unfortunately the less philosophical hope to attain this knowledge in a later life through the cycle of rebirth. Religion becomes a way for this culture to say who is just and who is unjust.Hinduism eventually becomes a means for the Indian people to transform the individual inner self, which is known as "atman", from the selfishness and ignorance of the ego. Thus attaining liberation from "me" or "I", this is the ultimate reality, other wise known as Brahman. "The Hindu hopes to attain liberation from the samsaric illusion into the infinite being-consciousness-bliss of Brahman." Ultimate reality is "the source of joy", "supreme bliss", it is mysterious; beyond definition. Brahman is a universal spirit or "the True Self of the self". This spirit is one existent re...
