' Nature''

 'Nature' is the manifest aspect of Brahmn. 'Brahman is Everything' (sarvam khaluvidam brahmaa), and as such, it manifests as everything! This concept of brahmn is to be experienced rather tha analyzed in words! If anybody asks what is brahmn, just ask what is not brahmn. The word 'brahmn' is something that stands for the basis of this universe. It is the substratum. It is 'That' ('tyat') that has no parallel. It is 'Ekam sat'. IT only exists and nothing besides it! What all we see or perceive is the reflection of 'That'!

  The first manifest aspect of 'Purusha' is Prakruti (Nature). 'Pura' means 'universe' (habitat), as also, 'prior to'. So, 'Purusha' is the First One (either pre-existent or just appeared). It consisted of three qualities or 'guna' - sattva, rajas, and the tamas.  These are the basic traits that appeared in different proportions in nature. The same three qualities are found in all that is created! Hence the entire is one of different qualities, varying in proportions!  

   We, the humans are of different qualities. Some are sattvika, and most of us are tamasika. The rajas appear and disappear. We are all sattvic in the early morning and late evening. We are all rajasika most of the time and turn tamasika during night. Thus, it is the quality, the guna that decides rather than the actual person, place, animal, or thing. When we use the qualitative or adjectives to nouns, it is the guna, quality that we refer to. So good, bad, fair, beautiful, ugly, hot, cold, etc. just show the quality!

  Now, the most important thing we have to understand is the quality that manifests in an object or person and find out whether it is 'true' or 'false'. What all appears may not be true, or false, either! The other important question that arises as to the quality is about the in-born traits, or the acquired ones. Finally, one has to decide the true nature of things (that include humans)!

  There is the doctrine of  "guneshu gunanuvartante"! Everything is 'quality' and we decide things depending on the quality. We tend to accept the best and reject the rest. So, it is the quality that is ultimately important. However, it is important to note that the quality is the basic trait, may be, an inherent aspect of Nature (prakruti). Incidentally, strangely enough, our guna is decided by the structure and composition of the Stars. The Stars under which we are born decides our course of life and work. We are all born under some star in a certain zodiac or constellation (Rashi).  our traits are decided by the elements and compounds that go to make the stars and the radiation of that star at the time of our birth (may be conception!).

  Hence we, the humans, are what we are as decided by the quality of the stars! Once we realize the fact that we are essentially that chaitanya, 'Energy' aspect rather than this physical elemental body acquired from the air, water, soil, and food. Discard what all one has acquired, the remaining is just that 'chaitanya'. Hence, the great sages proclaimed, "I AM THAT". 

"Atman"

 The most important teachings of the great Sage Vasishtha to Sri Ramachandra are about Adoration of the Atman and the Realsization of the Self. It is very important to know about the Self, the Atman. But there is no way or means to know about the Atman since the Atman is everything- the observer, the observed, and the means of observation. However, the great Sage Vasishtha imparts the 'Knowledge of Atman' to Sri Ramachandra. First Atman is Brahman only. 

 What is Brahman? There is no answer to this question. Brahman is sada as well as asada. It is, and It is Not! It is a puzzle. Brahman is Absilute Abstract and totally Silent, shaanta, atyantaabhava. It is a state of the Absolute, Existence - Non-existence, both in one. Out of Non-Existence, Existence of the many and varied (Objective World) manifests. First, there is atyanta abhva which manifests as Absilute Silence, quivering and sending vibration, waves, sound, alpha and beta, alphabets, words, the meaning of words leading to the objects and finally the manifest world of vyakti, vishaya and vastu prapancha. All these have the Atman as the core (of the substance).

  Now, the answer to the question about what is Atman is very simple. It is the core of the substance. It is the centre of the Universe, as also, its periphery since it expands to cover everything. It is the observer. It is pure Consciousness. It emanates as chit from sat. It is the manifest aspect of Brahman. It is the Atman. It is the Fire, Agni. It pervades, enter, engulf and manifest as chiti, chaitya, chetasa, chaitanya and everything that is capable of manifesting! It is Total Consciousness, indivisible, unchanging, eternal, unborn, omnipresent and it is the mainstay, the essence of the Existential Reality. We are what we are due to this inborn intricate energy! It is thus, clear that the entire universe that we perceive is nothing but the vibration, waves and bubbles of the Ocean of Consciousness! "Prajnyanan Brahmaa"!

   The simplest way of realizing the Atman, the Brahmn, is to discard the polltants that cover the pure Atman in different forms of names and functions. Discard the sensuus world as the mischief of the polluted Mind. Discard the polluted body as adjuncts of the Mind, Intellect and the Ego. Think this body as the product of soil, water and food and a perishable object! Think "I am not the body, mind, and the Intellect" Think "I am the eternal unborn immortal Self, the Atman."  Realize "I Am Brahman". This is Attainment.