The Essence of ātman: A Spiritual Voyage through the Ancestral Indo-European root *tṛ/tṝ.

The free motion [at] of human thought [man] (directed toward union with Brahman).

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The Indo-European root tṛ/tṝ, meaning "to cross over," "to traverse," and "to go beyond," covers a broad semantic area. It develops in the sense of "piercing through," "wounding," "penetrating with a pointed object," "performing an action indicating a moral crossing over," and "conveying words from one language to another."

With final expansions like -d, -p, -m, -s, the root tṛ/tṝ expresses figurative ideas of motion—of "going across," "exceeding limits," and "transcending boundaries."

As the syllable tṛ, it signifies the impulse to move, change, and surpass. The energy of fire, ever agitated, consuming forms while generating heat, vapour and light. The breath streaming in and out, allowing vital exchange between inner and outer worlds. The mind's capacity to range beyond past and future, crafting thoughts that can transform perception.

The ancestral Indo-European root *tṛ/tṝ changed to *tr̥ in Proto-Indo-Iranian languages, then to *tr in Indo-Aryan languages, and finally to *at in Sanskrit. This shows how sounds can change over time. The syllable "at"—carried the same connotation of unconstrained movement.

In Sanskrit, at (a+t) means "to go constantly," "to walk," and "to run." Related words include ati "that which goes beyond," "excessive;" atithi "that wanders," "guest;" atithipati "lord who receives the guest," "host;" ati-kram "to surpass," "to go beyond." Athari means "flame," and Atharvan means "priest worshipper of fire and Soma." The Atharva-Veda is the "Veda of Fire."

ātman [at+man].

In Sanskrit, ātman means "consciousness of the divine," "spiritual reality of the self," "individual soul," "innermost Self," "universal person," "the infinitesimal part of the eternal and divine that is in every human being."

The evolution of the meaning of ātman can be reconstructed as:

1) "Measure [m] of the vital breath of the cosmic Waters [an] that pervades [at] the universe.”

2) "The free motion [at] of human thought [man]" (directed toward union with Brahman).”

The spiritual traveller sets forth, invoking the sacred guest. As each learned text and word passes from tongue to tongue, ties strengthen across lands and generations. Ever forward flows the ageless quest - to pierce veils, unlock gates, and relay sparks between realms. The most subtle channels start to open and clear. Beyond duality, inside and out permeate; flames mingle with starry streams.

This is the innermost journey, utterly still yet unceasing. No need for gaining, just the joy of pure being—at play in all possible movements and rests, discoveries happening anew in each moment. Across the limitless expanse, ever-emerging worlds and cosmoses to traverse, never tiring. In every creature and mote of dust, the singular shine of ātman appears.

The vital current crosses over all divisions as syllable tṛ. In the heart of the lotus, individual consciousness lifts from its stem. Utterly intimate, simultaneously universal, the treasure blooms as unbounded awareness - our common ground, ether, source. The fire ceremonies rekindle with the song: "I am That I am."

Through the restless transformations of heat, moisture, breath and thought, the truth inheres: this travelling is already homecoming. However far awareness roams, its light ever beckons back to the vast yet subtle moment where essence meets existence. Past this myriad play of crossing over, the singular traverses all.

Source: Rendich, Franco. “Dizionario etimologico comparato di Indoeuropeo Sanscrito Greco Latino.” Palombi, 2010.

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