Moment to Speak

Self is I am That, which is the underlying essence of Brahman of unmanifest consciousness, Sat-Chit-Ananda (Existence-Consciousness-Bliss), or Satyaṃ Jnananam Anantam Brahma (Real-Consciousness-Infinite). Self is "I am That", which is unalloyed, unattached, unbounded, unconditioned, unfathomed, uncaused, spotless, eternal, self-effulgent, pure consciousness, and pure essence of Cosmic-Self. Sage Ashtavakra (Ashtavakra Gita, 2.1-3) affirms with King Janaka that I am truly spotless and at peace—an awareness beyond natural causality. Delusion has plagued me all this time. As I alone give light to this body, so I do to the world. As a result, the whole world is mine, or alternatively, nothing is. Now, through some divine intervention, my true self emerges as I relinquish my physical body and everything else. Sage Ashtavakra (Ashtavakra Gita, 1.11-18) asserts that if one considers oneself to be free, one is free, and if one thinks of oneself as bound, one is bound. This saying is...

The statement by Ramana Maharshi, "Be as you are," is an averment to recognise and abide by one's true nature, which he describes as pure awareness or consciousness (The Teachings of Bhagavan Sri Ramana Maharshi, Translation by Dr. T. M. P. Mahadevan, From the original Tamil, Published by V. S. Ramanan, President, Board of Trustees Sri Ramanasramam Tiruvannamalai, Tamil Nadu) . This journey is not about attaining a new state but about realising what is already present within, hidden beneath the veil of Avidya, or ignorance. Our own avidya veils us so that we remain unaware of the thought-manufacturing mind's inherent natural tendency to move outward into the phenomenal world. That is why all of our scriptures, including the Upanishads and the Srimad Bhagavad Gita, prophetically assert that we should realise the 'I', or Atman , within ourselves. Srimad Bhagavad Gita (6.34-35) says the mind is very restless, turbulent, strong, and obstinate and is indeed very di...

Ashtavakra Gita, a dialogue between Sage Ashtavakra and Sage King Janaka, explores the nature of Atman (Self), self-realisation and liberation. It teaches the oneness of existence and the non-duality of Atman (Self) and Brahman  (Cosmic Self, or Absolute Existence, or Ultimate Reality). At the heart of Ashtavakra Gita is the belief that Atman is beyond the body, mind, intellect and senses. It presents the idea that human suffering stems from identifying with the transient aspects of existence, ego and the phenomenal world, rather than realising the eternal, uncaused, unchanged, unmoved, unfettered, and undecayed nature of Atman . It focuses on the nature of Atman , the illusory nature of the external world, and the path to Moksha ,  or liberation. Atman , or Self, is the all-pervading, unchanging Brahman . It is the subject that remains constant, but the objects are subject to changes due to birth, growth and decay. It emphasises the oneness of all beings and the int...