Miscellaneous - Religion   

Nature of the Self

CHENNAI: The Upanishads state that the Supreme Brahman is One but becomes many and this entire universe is the effect of Brahman appearing as many. There is none apart from Brahman, none equal to Him and none greater either. Brahman is everywhere like space and exists always. Adi Sankara’s teachings reinforce the core message of the Upanishads and if one understands that the same Brahman dwells in each and every being and endeavours to stop perceiving each of these as different, one is sure to gain peace of mind and be slowly relieved of worldly pulls, said Sri Goda Venkateswara Sastrigal in a lecture. The Self within each being is the essence of consciousness and is not bound to anything worldly. Yet as soon as we are born we develop possessiveness towards people, places and objects and allow ourselves to be bound to the world.

Lord Krishna speaks of this truth in the Bhagavad Gita in simple terms to clear Arjuna’s confusion. Arjuna, seeing the armies and the people as belonging to him and his family feels pangs of guilt at the thought of killing them for the sake of gaining the kingdom. He voices his despondency to Lord Krishna, and seeks light and guidance from Him about the path of dharma. It is then that Lord Krishna makes clear the distinction between the Self and the body and tells Arjuna not to grieve for what is imperishable. That by which all the universe is pervaded is indestructible, and its reality is self established.

The Jnana that this Self (Atma) is independent is important to a Jivatma for it makes one understand that even if the body and mind get affected by worldly affairs, the Atma remains unaltered and indestructible. Changes and fluctuations pertain to the physical body.

The Kenopanishad illustrates the powerful presence of the Self in each being and identifies it as the power that activates the various senses such as the eye, ear, etc. The true nature of the individual Self is incomprehensible since it is not to be grasped by the ordinary means of knowledge, namely the senses, mind and intellect. One has to go beyond the functional aspects of the senses to feel and experience the Self through the inward eye of wisdom.

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