what difference does it make if we are all connected or not. if you dont know your Atman in the Atman/Brahman equation your still missing a huge piece to the puzzle..
the bottom line is that your being invited to learn about who and what you really are at a deeper experience that what you experience of yourself now.....going to this transcendental place then you come back and live your life with a whole new and positive perspective...
the transcendental experience is just to see who and what you really are at the deepest level possible..the experience could last for just a moment and that is enough..people do intense spiritual practices for lifetimes to get this transcendence...its that fantastic!
what i know understand think there are infinite Atmans that can be described as the eternal unchanging aliveness essence/energy in all sentient beings..all Atmans are one with Brahman always...like drops in the ocean..if your familiar with ramana maharshi he calls Atman/Brahman the Self. i assume that people calling it This and That are also knowing This and That is ATman/Brahman and Supreme Self...it can be known and understood from the point of view of manifestion but from my point of view knowing and understanding this from the place where there is absolutely no manifestion is the goal...this is also what i call *knowing Thyself*...knowing who and what you really are..some people talk about just Brahman but from my point of view you cant know just Brahman you need to know Atman..
the *Me* that you Really are is deathless, birthless, eternal, and the real Substance in every individual. (the same description as essential I, Atman, Self and God etc etc..).when *realized* you'll see that it is your Original Face..this *real Me* that you really are doesnt suffer. suffering is one form of ignorance that gets *attached* to the body/mind complex. (pleasure is another form of ignorance) now..you can believe beings like ramana maharshi and sri atmananda, meher baba and baba hari dass, nisargadatta and robert adams...swami sivanananda, and the list goes on and on..who all talk about the reality of a True Me using a different word such as Self or God or Supreme Being etc etc..or not....(just so you know the idea that this Self/God can also be called Me isnt my original idea. i got it from reading a guru named aziz kristoff...and it made perfect sense...(aziz seems to have made some mistakes with some of his disciples and has fallen off the scene). (i posted this to another group and thought i will share here) be happy!