| Beyond the three bodies of man and deep
beneath them, in them and through them, like a thread in and through the
flowers of a garland is the Self or the Atman or the soul, the persistent
reality. And that soul is eternal and universal. It cannot be burnt, nor
can it be cut by a sword. It can't be drowned in a flood or blown away by
the wind. It remains in and through them as the white cinema screen which
can't be burnt or drenched by the scenes of fire and flood displayed on
it. And we are that Atman, immortal and infinite.
It is ignorance to identify ourselves with the changing bodies.
It is wisdom to know who we are. We are the changeless and blissful soul.
Who is present in us while we grow from childhood to old age? Who am I?
Am I the body? Am I the mind? Am I the brain? Who am I? I am the Atman.
A lion's cub is brought up among the sheep. It is grazing
and bleating like the sheep. It is scared of the lions as the other sheep
are afraid. It does not know that it is really a lion. Once it was taken
to a pond by a friendly lion and shown its own reflection. It came to
know its swaswaroopa or original self. It is not a sheep, it is but a
lion. And the moment the truth dawned, it started roaring fearlessly,
gleefully, majestically. It is a lion, fearless, brave and strong. How
foolish it is, it has been of the view that it is only a sheep. Are we
wise if we identify ourselves with that, which we are not?
Similarly, as long as we are ignorant of our swaswaroopa,
we think we are the changing bodies and feel miserable. When once we know
who we are, we reign supreme. Let us know who we are and enjoy the bliss
of Self.
Alexander on his way back to Greece wanted to take with him
a spiritual person. He saw one such realised soul in the Himalayas blazing
with spiritual splendour. Alexander requested him to accompany him, offering
gold. Nothing could tempt or threaten the sage. He was above all; lured
by nothing, scared of nothing. Alexander was astounded by the spiritual
effulgence of the yogi. |
