There is no proper word for Athma in English. Translators used the Self for Athma, which is an error. +

There is no proper word for Athma in English. Translators used the Self for Athma, which is an error. Athma means existence. Athma is the cause of the whole universe whereas the Self is limited to a physical entity.

The English use of the word the Self l as applied to the individual Soul. Sage Sankara rejects many souls theory. Sage Sankara's wisdom is ekathma vada (one Soul).

Existence without the illusory form, time, and space is applied to unseen Athma, which is the cause and support of the illusory universe in which we exist.

The seeker has to remember the Self means Athma, which is not limited to an individual but Athma pervades in everything and everywhere in the whole universe.

Hence, many errors have arisen in translations from Sanskrit.

Brahman ~ The word Brahman or Sat has no proper equivalent in English. The nearest is ultimate reality or ultimate truth. The west, however, applies reality to individual objects or to the multiplicity of them all: whereas Advaitins apply it to the nonduality. Brahman is called "That" because it is something not known yet by the seeker.

Remember:~

Many souls theory is based on the false self and false experience(world). When the whole universe is created out of single stuff, which is the Soul then whatever the universe contains is also consciousness.

Thus, the Soul is one and in ignorance, the diversity (world) appears as a reality.

Sage Sankara asks his opponents ~ "How do you know there are separate individual Souls? Have you seen the Soul of a man? You can only say that you have seen different bodies. To say more is to misuse language. Therefore, I call you liars unless you give proof, which is impossible.

Rig Veda: ~ The Athma is the cause; Athma is the support of all that exists in this universe.

So, it proves the Soul is not an individual but it is the support of all that exists in this universe.

The Soul is not limited to an individual. The individuals are many but the Soul is one. The individual exists within the universe. The Soul is the cause of the universe and it itself is uncaused.

The Soul is not within the human body. The universe is created out of single stuff. That single stuff is the Soul, which is present in the form of consciousness. Thus, whatever universe contains is bound to be the Soul, which is present in the form of consciousness.:~Santthosh Kumaar