Brahman
Many Hindus believe in Supreme Spirit BrahmanHindu belief in one true god, the Supreme Spirit, called Brahman, symbolised by the sacred syllable aum (or om). All beings are a part of Brahman. as the ultimate reality 鈥 one 'Supreme Spirit' in many forms. Brahman is male, female and even animal.
Atman
The belief is that the atman of each of us may also hold a 'spark' of Brahman. For many Hindus, Brahman is present in the lives of all living things.
The traditional Hindu greeting 'Namaste', usually performed with joined palms and bowed head, may be translated as 'I bow to the divine spark within you'.
The belief that atman is indestructible means that ending a life to protect others or in defence is acceptable for some Hindus. In addition to the teachings from the Bhagavad Gita, other scriptures also highlight that death is just part of the cycle of reincarnationThe religious belief that existence is a cycle of birth, life, death and rebirth, and that the soul survives physical death and is reborn in a new body.. The belief is that killing someone is not ending the existence of that atman, just ending one lifetime of many.