In Sanskrit, a negative form is expressed with a- for a consonant, and with an-for a vowel.

Anātmā can be described as everything that is transient. These are, in fact, all objects of consciousness (including the body, mind, and senses, for they too are objects of consciousness as I am aware of them; because I am aware of them, I am necessarily different from them).

Whatever phenomenon or experience I consider myself to be, it comes down to imposing a limit on myself. Limitation brings vulnerability, which gives rise to fear, bhayam.

Compare the analogy with dreams. It is important to understand that dreaming has the entire content of a dream in its origin, essence, and nature in the dreamer and thus (in that sense alone) cannot be other than the dreamer himself.

In the same way, it is finally established by those who distinguish that everything that is anātmā is nothing but ātmā, while ātmā is always different from anātmā.

The five attributes of anātmā are: dṛśyatvam, perceptibility, bādhyatvam, deniability, saguṇatvam, endowed with attributes, savikāratvam, variability, āgama-apāyitvam, depending on arrival and departure.