Moment to Speak

The Self, or Atman , is an essence of Universal Consciousness. It is also Paramatman, Brahman , or the Supreme Self.  According to Kaushitaki Upanishad (1.2), during the conversations between Sage Aruni and his son Svetaketu with King Chitra Gargyayani, "I am You" denotes "I" because "Atman" is the same as " Paramatman ". The Upanishad expresses the Vedantic idea of Atman and Brahman being one. The route to Brahman serves as the scene. After leaving the phenomenal frame in the worldly dimension, Atman , or Self, travels to the moon, where it may either continue its journey to higher elevations of consciousness up to the highest level of Consciousness, or Brahman , or be reborn in this world, according to Kaushitaki Upanishad (1.2). As one becomes more detached from the sense-perceived attachments of the phenomenal world, there is an increase in the ability to recognise Oneness, as expressed in various texts: "I am awareness" (Ashtavakra...

The remembrance of the past world is entwined with the activation of Vasanas , or the subtle state of desires carried across lifetimes, so holds Swami Sivananda . Vasanas are subtle desire-based imprints left on the mind from past experiences, objects, and actions. These imprints are considered the root of bondage, as they create desires and attachments that bind Jivatma , or embodied Self, to the phenomenal world and the Samsara Chakra, or  cycle of birth and death. These Vasanas influence present actions and create new ones, but they can be purified or weakened through inward movement, or meditative practices. The experienced world, including past lives and after-death experiences, is not a reality but rather a mental construct or projection based on these stored mental impressions carried over several lifetimes. This way our current experiences are shaped not only by present circumstances but also by the unfulfilled Vasanas , or subtle desires, and experiences of our previous ...

In the Yoga-Vasistha, the concepts of unity and duality are central to understanding Reality and the path to Moksha, or liberation. The text Yoga-Vasistha is attributed to Maharshi Valmiki, the author of Ramayana. Maharshi Valmiki, in the Yoga-Vasistha texts, presents conversations between Maharshi Vasistha and Bhagwan Sri Rama, discussing how the unchanging and limitless nature of Consciousness, known as Brahman or Cosmic Self, shows up as the separate world we experience. The Yoga-Vasistha asserts that this duality is ultimately an illusion, a mental construction, or projection of the mind, and that true understanding lies in realising the underlying unity. It postulates that our perception of a separate, dualistic world is a mental conditioning resulting from Avidya, or ignorance. This phrenic mode leads us to falsely perceive a separation between ourselves and the world, creating a sense of duality in our experience. It contends that Ultimate Reality is one, indivisible, imperishab...