Or to propose another explanation of the text, Átmá tat tvam asi, That art thou, it may be divided, átmá tat tvam asi. He alone is soul as possessing independence and other attributes, and thou art not-that (atat) as wanting those attributes; and thus the doctrine of unity is utterly expelled. Thus it has been said:—
"Or the division may be Atat tvam, and thus unity will be well got rid of."
According, therefore, to the Tattva-váda-rahasya, the words in the nine examples (in the Chhándogya Upanishad), He like a bird tied with a string, &c., teach unity with the view of giving an example of non-duality. Accordingly the Mahopanishad:—
"Like a bird and the string; like the juices of various trees;
"Like rivers and the sea; like fresh and salt water;
"Like a robber and the robbed; like a man and his energy;
"So are soul and the Lord diverse, for ever different.
"Nevertheless from subtilty (or imperceptibility) of form, the supreme Hari
"Is not seen by the dim-sighted to be other than the individual spirit, though he is its actuator;
"On knowing their diversity a man is emancipated: otherwise he is bound."