What is the relationship between Brahman, Paramatma, and Ishvara?

[Gambit]

What is the relationship between Brahman, Paramatma, and Ishvara?

 

[George-ananda]

Paramatma=Brahman

Ishvara=Brahman+Maya (?)

 

[Gambit]

Paramatma=Brahman

Ishvara=Brahman+Maya (?)

Are you implying that Ishvara is illusory?

 

[Kalibhakta]

Brahman is the impersonal god that is the source of all things.
Paramatma is Brahman as the source of all souls.
Ishvara, as I understand it, is God as the Westerners understand it, Brahman with a personality.

 

[George-ananda]

Are you implying that Ishvara is illusory?

Ultimately, yes. Is He even relatively real like us? I'm thinking just a concept name.

 

[Gambit]

Brahman is the impersonal god that is the source of all things.
Paramatma is Brahman as the source of all souls.
Ishvara, as I understand it, is God as the Westerners understand it, Brahman with a personality.

I like it, but there's one problem. "Paramatma" literally means the "self beyond." So, let me rework your response: Brahman is the impersonal aspect of the Godhead, Ishvara is the personal aspect of the Godhead, and Paramatma is the transpersonal aspect of the Godhead. (Of, course these three are one.)

 

[Gambit]

Ultimately, yes. Is He even relatively real like us? I'm thinking just a concept name.

You're expressing the Advaita perspective (which is only one of many schools of Vedanta).

 

[Kalibhakta]

I like it, but there's one problem. "Paramatma" literally means the "self beyond." So, let me rework your response: Brahman is the impersonal aspect of the Godhead, Ishvara is the personal aspect of the Godhead, and Paramatma is the transpersonal aspect of the Godhead. (Of, course these three are one.)

I suppose so. Ishvara is most important to a Bhakti. I am a bit rusty on my Vedanta.