Shriram Sharma Acharya What am I Posted on 2011/02/10 by salvadorka Leave a comment Chapter 1 Within each human being is unlimited

wealth, an unimaginable source of energy. T he only reason for his hardships and sorrow is ignorance of this true self. When he realizes it his sorrow will disappear. I am not the physical body, so how can I be born or die? I am not the body fire, so how can thirst and hunger control my existence? I am not the mind, so how ca n grief and confusion affect me? I am not the doer, so how can I be thought of a s bound or liberated? The Real You is not the Body When one sees his identity as part of an eternal being, he has acquired true kno wledge. The body is only instrument of the real self. Although the self does tak e on a body, it continues its independent existence as a soul. I am the soul. Th us, body and soul are two different entities. The body is the temple of the soul. It is both proper and necessary to look afte r its health, cleanliness and maintenance. However, one must never identify excl usively with that body. The interests of the Soul and Body are different The body is governed by the senses along with mind. The senses are focused on fu lfilling one s bodily needs in pursuit of various sensory pleasures. Such happines s is short term and does not lead to real fulfillment. Real success and prosperity lies in remaining conscious of one s true identity. Wh en man identifies with atma (soul), his aspirations and inclinations will natura lly begin to follow the path of self-discipline that provide true contentment. Virtuous acts, altruism, kindheartedness provide cheerfulness and exhilaration. This signals that these acts are in accordance with the interests of the soul. T hese virtuous acts bring peace and joy to the soul and influence the course of i ts journey after it leaves the body. The interest of the soul lies in living virtuously. The body only considers its well-being in terms of physical gratification. Body and soul s interests are diffe rent and also they actively work against one another. Complete focus on bodily p lease is not what the soul wants and soul s true interests take strict discipline of the body and mind. Self-Realization is reflected in One s Behavior There are two kinds of people in the world: those who are solely engrossed in th e body and those who are conscious of the soul. The first ones spend their entir e lives in the pursuit of material comfort which has no difference from the anim als. The others act in accordance with the true interests of the soul. For them the b ody is an instrument for self-expression in the visible world. They identify onl y with the atma and all their endeavors are directed towards its joy. A soul-con scious person follows a life path conforming the highest standards that lead to abiding peace and joy. The Rewards of Self-Realization

One does not become unduly influenced by the routine ups and downs of life when he is aware of the immortal soul. The man of awakened awareness views the passin g of incidents like a detached spectator and he is neither elated by pleasant ev ents nor distressed by unpleasant ones. Upon knowing the true self he will gain the judgment to discriminate between wha t is beneficial for his well-being and what is not. When one is aware of the sou l, things that seemed beneficial to the former, hedonistic mindset are now seen as useless and likewise, pursuits that once seemed pointless become a source of joy, leading one closer to the goal of self-realization and truth. The Goal of Spiritual Disciplines True enlightenment is realizing the nature of the material world as illusory and transient. With the help of spiritual disciplines a person can rise to a higher level of se lf-realization. Once this paradigm shift is accomplished, his standard definitio ns of what he is and what belongs to him will expand to encompass the entire uni verse. He understands that he is one with all existence. Everything will seem to be under his care. There are two factors which are responsible for success in any endeavor known to man: honest appraisal of one s capacities and knowledge of the resources both ava ilable and required to complete the task. Chapter 2 Self-realization requires a clear understanding of the true nature of the self, the physical body, and the resources available to one s own mind, and the integrat ion of this understanding fully into the mind so it is never forgotten. One cannot connect with the soul through machinations of the intellect. One has to exercise, train and experience. Begin with a Clean Slate Self-realization is an uphill task and in order to climb to its peak, one has to reach the foot. Start as a beginner, concentrating on what is the I, what am I? Most of people concentrate only on the reality of their body, or follow rituals without realizing the deeper meaning. Access to Atma is Through the Mind The means available to us for approaching atma include the memory, mind, intelle ct and heart. These need to be trained and developed into tools through spiritua l disciplines for attaining self knowledge. A subtle consciousness that controls all activities of the universe is present i n the mind. All inspiration and guidance for a spiritual quest comes through a r eceptive, peaceful and pure mind. A pure mind is one that receives its directive s as intuitions. It is the mind that serves as the channel for access to the con sciousness and the sould of man encased in the body. The Use of Yogic Practices for the Control of Body and Mind Higher knowledge can only be experienced upon entering the realm of the mind, wi th the help of the intellect. The various types of yoga keep the body healthy, w hich is an essential first step before mind control exercises can be undertaken.

Thus maintain good health with simply exercises. More difficult practices such as pranayama are not useful anymore in the polluted environment, etc. Preparation for Spiritual Disciplines Find a calm place without distractions. Sit comfortable without strain in any wa y. Relax your muscles, let each part of your body remain loose, tension-free, pe aceful. Sit this way for some time. This preparation for meditation has a specif ic purpose. Later, this state of consciousness will become an integral part of t he mind and will not require any willful effort. In difficult situations which give rise to fear, misery, pain and stress, this e quanimity of mind will become active without effort and you will be able to pass through these crises with confidence and peace. The Soul as the Nucleus of Your World In the meditative state focus your thoughts on the nature of I . Try not to think a bout any external person, place, thing or event. Your soul is an actual, indepen dent entity, infinitely powerful, indestructible, the star around which your per sonal world continuously revolves, in motion as planets around their sun. Establ ish your soul as the sun. Assure yourself that the objects around you are depend ent on you, but you are not dependent on them. Your soul is a nucleus of the energy and elements related to you, all of which r evolve around you. When you fully understand this fact, you will clearly perceiv e yourself as a centre of consciousness acting on everything related to you. All your world including material objects in it are completely separate from you. The Rewards of Discovering the Soul A person is related to the physical world but does not lose himself in it. When you become aware of the immense potential of your soul, you will display the att ributes of your omnipotent heritage. When a person becomes more spiritually awar e, lower tendencies such as hatred, greed and anger fall away from his nature. H is higher attributes, such as philanthropy and compassion, grow in proportion to his spiritual progress. Evidence of Self-Realization: Personal Experience One needs to successively adopt the traditionally established and tested practic es of dharana (concentration), dhyana (meditation) and samadhi (absorption). Pra ctice the exercises and through meditation and contemplation explore the hidden domain of your mind. Conceptualize yourself as a central star shining like the sun, around which you experience your entire world revolving. Repeat this exercise again and again unt il the impression becomes so deep that whenever you pronounce I , there is a flash in your mind of a comprehensive image comprising your thoughts, strengths and ta lents, along with your central star. Dissociate from Body-Consciousness You and your body are two different entities entirely. You are using your body a s a tool. Imagine your I continuing to exist even after your body has been discard ed. Imagine leaving your body, observing it from a higher level, as a nest in wh ich you live and can easily depart. You are responsible for making this body hea lthy and useful. You are its master. You can use it according to your own will. During meditation, completely forget your body. Concentrate your thoughts and em

otions on I , a separate conscious entity. The body is the temple of the soul and it is your duty to protect it in every wa y and keep it healthy and strong. Extrasensory Experiences Is the imagery of this spiritual discipline begins to take root the practitioner may feel as though he had actually died. There may be extrasensory images of th ings not visible at the place of meditation through normal sight. Hazy images of an extrasensory world, other-worldly forms and heavenly scenes may appear. In this state, however, the soul of the practitioner does not actually leave the body but is able to transcend the limits of the body without severing his conne ction with it. Immortality of the Soul The body is said to be composed of five basic elements: water, air, earth, fire and space. During meditation, visualize your true self as independent of this fo rm, free of the body. I am now passing through a huge ects of the heat are limited to how can I, the atma, be burnt? hat can touch me, or create the column of fire without feeling any pain. The eff the heat-sensitive organs of a material body, so There remains no element of the physical world t least obstruction to my freedom.

The true self becomes aware that it not only has far greater potentialities than the body, but transcends the elements of tits physiology as well. This will cau se you to feel reborn. You will realize again that things you were formerly afra id of cannot actually harm you. Through knowledge and with willpower, these fear s can be removed at the physical level as well. The identification of I as the Soul is the Key to Lasting Joy

The key to self-realization is the proper identification of I . Only after developi ng this capacity you can progress towards total self-realization. Realize that t he immortal soul is independent of the mortal body, that the soul is a star arou nd which your entire world revolves like the planets around the sun. this percep tion will endow you with vitality and vibrance that will be reflected in your ac tions. You will feel at peace and discover that you cannot be disturbed by the t rials of this world. As you make progress you will find yourself gaining skills which will enable you to remain calm during the greatest calamities of life, to quiet them and rule t hem. A self-realized person always smiles, even during such times. Affirmations: I am a powerhouse of talent and energy I am an inexhaustible source of diving thoughts and vigor

My world is revolving around my inner self and I am independent of th e physical body I am indestructible I am indivisible. No one and nothing can harm my real me

Chapter 3 In order to clearly perceive the soul, one must understand the differences betwe en the body and its senses, between the senses and the mind, and between the min d and the soul. Separating the true self from the faculties of the mind requires a deeper level of perception and sensitivity. Even after extricating the self form its physical coverings, the mind remains an d consequently creates confusion. The mind is the conscious entity that serves a s a link between the body and soul. The Three Levels of the Mind Pravratti Mind It is responsible for the formation of habits. The experiences of countless year s of evolution are all stored in this subconscious layer of the mind. The basic impulses of the two lower modes of nature, tamas (ignorance, dullness, passivity ) and rajas (arrogance, sensuality, greed, anger) are all stored in seed form in subconscious layers of the pravratti mind. Prabuddha Mind It is a subtler level, the intelligent and conscious one. The functions of this layer include analysis, judgement, discrimination, logical thinking, conceptuali zing and decision/making. This layer of the mind can be further explored through psychology. Adhyatma Mind It is the most refined level of the mind and a distinctive characteristic of a s piritually awakened person. In the majority of people it remains inactive. This attribute of the mind is manifested in one s self-inspiration, conscience, talents , love, virtue, mercy, empathy, justice, sensitivity and integrity. This level o f mind is also a garment for the soul. The soul can only be reached and experien ced through the adhyatma. The Mind as a tool for Self-Realization No one level of the mind is an obstruction in itself. The entire mind is always bringing you closer to the reality of your immortal identity. Each level when us ed properly, has its own specific role in helping the seeker move towards self-r ealization. People tend to attribute their failures to the insufficiency of their mind, but instead of doing so, they should strive to properly activate their dormant poten tials of the higher levels of the mind. Differentiating the Soul from the Products of the Mind Seat yourself in a calm and relaxed state of mind. Open yourself to the wisdom y our adhyatma mind can give you. All objective and subjective thoughts are produc ts of the mind and are, therefore, not the soul. The soul is an entity independe nt of the mind. Examine how the soul exists independent of the mind. Emotional impulses such as love, anger, hatred, and joy constantly rise and fall in the mind. Soul can diff erentiate, examine, analyze, and discard each of these. It can also observe the stages of their beginning, intensifying and ending. All these impulses are part of an ongoing observation. The observer the soul is a different entity from the

observed objects, which are the body and mind. You will become so adept at this that it will seem as if the object of observation were another person entirely. The fact that these creations of the mind can be observed as separate objects is an indication that they are not part of your real self. With practice, this per ception of separation will become stronger and ultimately uninterrupted experien ce. Inherent Human Traits and the Soul Ignore all traits, both good and bad. Leave them as they are. Realize that an ov erarching, independent entity is beyond all of them. Once the immensity of that entity is understood, you may look back at those traits again and utilize them a s their rightful owner. You will not be afraid to abandon unwanted traits once y ou realize that you are in charge. By thinking this, you will be able to utilize your traits according to your will. I considers the mind and its powers as its to ols. It is the master of the mind. The sole purpose of trying to reach the adhyatma mind is to create the highest p ossible awareness of the soul, so that you are convinced of its competence and c an utilize its instruments properly. This understanding will empower you to disc ard the old garments of regressive traits and illusions and do the new ones of v irtue. Then you will be able to carry out the duties and responsibilities of you r life effectively, thus becoming a role model for others. Transcending the soul is the vishuddha atma, the pure, ultimate, immutable supre me soul of which the individual soul is only a spark. The conviction of this tra nscendental being comes through personal realization. By separating the soul fro m the body, the mind, and everything else related to it, and by discarding ever subtler layers of consciousness, the seeker is ultimately left with the immortal , immutable soul, beyond which nothing remains to be discerned. The thinker and the object being analyzed can never be the same. You are not an ob ject of deliberation, yet your consciousness tells you I am . This is proof that yo ur soul exists. The Soul as an Ever Present Witness The I , the soul, is a drop of the absolute ocean of consciousness people know as G od. It is one spark of that sun of the spirit. Perceive the existence of the sou l in yourself and appreciate that man is a deity in deep slumber, unaware of his potential. Within a human being, this potential is dormant, awaiting discovery and seeking an outlet to manifest itself. The soul does not have an independent existence of its own and always remains an integral part of the supreme spirit. Before exploring this, you must attain rea lization of the soul within yourself. For the explanation of such a great subject, thoughts and words seem weak. Until you have personally experienced it, knowledge remains a mere theoretical statem ent. But once you have, these truths will never disappear from sight and no argu ment will be capable of shaking your trust in it. The Inner Self as the Master of Mind and Body Your soul is the master of your body and mind. The mind and body are your subjec ts. Free yourself from their slavery. Order your subjects your temperament, your thoughts, your intellect, your desires to work under your direction. They must now obey your orders with complete loyalty and never show the least carelessness in maintaining your kingdom.

Be patient. Even if it takes years of practice, the endeavor of self-realization should never be abandoned. Study, contemplate, have faith, and move forward on the path of self-realization. Affirmations: I am the master. My mind is an instrument for my expression I am not the mind. I am not dependent on the authority of the mind I am not a slave of my mind, I am the master of it

I am capable of separating the self from intellect, temperament, desi res, and all other faculties and activities of mind. Leaving all these aside, wh at is left is I I am indestructible, eternal, immortal, ever-pure, immutable and undi fferentiated bliss Chapter 4 So ham I Am That

The power of the soul is even greater than described because it is a part of the supreme spirit, paramatma. There is no difference between the two. You must rea lize that what you have perceived yourself to be is actually far greater than yo u can imagine. It is cared for and nourished by the supreme spirit like a fetus in the mother s womb. It is made of that supreme spirit, and spiritual practice ul timately results in a union of that individual soul aham and the supreme spirit itself. Then ensues a state of awareness which the yogis describe as So aham , I am th at . Man as a Tortoise in a River Practice this meditation: let your imagination expand to include everything you have ever seen, thought of, and heard about. Your mental imagery will show you a n unimaginable, immense expanse of matter. This is how man perceives the world. What he overlooks is that there is also an endless ocean of consciousness that c oexists with this material world. Every drop of this consciousness is moving for ward in its own space. The elements of matter that make up the physiology of lif e are constantly undergoing physical and chemical changes. For example our body. Chemicals that compose various types of organic matter wil l enter body in a day and leave in the day after. The body constantly undergoes complete renewal. In this ocean of matter and energy, human beings and other life forms live like tortoises in a flowing river. There is the perpetual movement of natural current s of matter around us and these currents are constantly going through all beings . Everything in this world is undergoing change. This is the absolute, immutable law of nature, both material and spiritual. The world is fleeting. The mental energies are also constantly moving about the world. Thoughts, words, and philosophies all travel through the atmosphere, and sometimes identical ideas arise in many minds simultaneously. Mass thinking by g roups of immoral people pollutes the environment, and a more refined person feel s suffocated at such places. On the other hand, one feels relaxed at a place of healthier entertainment, and peaceful at a place of worship.

Currents of thought hover around people, and they constantly interact with them. People can attract or repel specific ideas with the power of their minds. Each of the three levels of the mind has its own independent flow, and as the ol der elements of the body are replace, so too are the constituents of the mind. T hey are always in the state of flux. The most hated enemy of yesterday becomes t he loved one of today. The money-mongerer suddenly becomes sannyasi. Such transf ormations happen because old thoughts and ideologies are perpetually being repla ced by new ones. The belief that everything in this world, both visible and invisible, is constan tly moving can help us understand that this entire world is one. The basis of cr eation is its unity. Everything is related and interdependent. Saying Nothing in this world belongs to me and everything in this world belongs to me is the same. The world is an ocean of life and energy in which the soul is progressively evol ving, taking what is necessary and discarding what is not. Each particle of phys ical matter is also living and has intelligence of its own. All its molecules ar e alive and in motion, following universal laws. All people, like fish in water, are dependent for their very survival on this ocean of life. The force of consc iousness activates infinite systems, forms, and forces of this cosmos. All embodied beings, whatever their form, are part of your own self. The same en ergy which animates you is present in each of them. Visualize that being part of the supreme spirit, your soul encompasses the entir e world. This process expands your individual self to the dimension of the supre me self. The seeker becomes a yogi when his individuality has been consciously u nited with the cosmic self. To do this, one must cultivate a sense of unity with all beings. Realizing that all beings are part of that unified existence, the yogi interacts with them without discrimination, and perceives his own self as intrinsically r elated to all. Such an individual feels connect to all living beings regardless of their external appearance. The souls of all beings are also individual linked to the supreme spirit. This is the truth behind the concept of universal brothe rhood. The experience of it cannot be described in words, it is known as samadhi . It brings with it freedom from bondage to the world, independence, self-relian ce and total liberation. Meditation for Awareness of the Unified Field Enter a state of meditation and concentrate on the life force flowing through al l beings. Believe that there is only one cosmic consciousness vibrating through the universe and that this force has differentiated into the five basic elements that constitute all beings. All perceptions and sensations are chemical reactio ns produced as a consequence of interactions between these elements and the mind ; each sensory perception is like a frequency of sound from an instrument. The p rimordial source of energy is one, and it sustains your life in the same manner as it sustains other organisms. Unification with the Universal Mind Your individual mind is only a drop in this ocean of minds, all working with hun dreds of mental processes, all composing a universal field of knowledge and perc eption. The mind of an individual acquires knowledge through books, people, or d irect interaction with the universal mental plane. The ocean of knowledge like t he life force is an active force and it can be utilized. Man can use and discard the thoughts from this universal field.

When one becomes convinced of the universality of body and mind, nothing appears personal or individual. The enlightened person becomes free of the illusion tha t the sheaths of his body and mind exist in isolation. With the relationship bet ween all things throughout the universe, each individual can be considered an in tegral part of the whole. Nothing in the world appears alien. From this level of consciousness, the world is revealed in its true perspective, and the awakened seer will know how to act with equanimity in all circumstances . Once a seeker reaches this stage, he no longer needs to seek any virtues. They become part of his personality. The Attitude of a Steadfast, Wise Person One who attains steadfast wisdom realizes that although all beings seem to have their independent individuality, they are parts of one supreme reality. Even tho ugh the child has a separate existence, his own body is made with parts from bot h his mother and father. The soul also has its immortal existence, but it is so in relations to the supreme soul. This is the ultimate state of unity, of self-r ealization, in which the individual soul declares, so aham asmi I am that absolute spirit. He realizes that in the multitude of sapes and forms in the world there is the hidden reality of one life, one force and one truth. The quest for absolute truth ends with the answer to What am I? This is the highes t wisdom, beyond which nothing remains to be known. The life of o ne who has lea rned this by heart will be full of love and compassion. This is the fulfillment of the aim of human life. Affirmations: My body and mind, and associated people, places, and things, are only momentary manifestations of the all-pervading universal matter

All products of my mind information, thoughts, ideologies, and resolu tions are particles of an undifferentiated universal field of intelligence in th e mental element The elements of matter and mind are perpetually in motion. Therefore, there are no limitations to the number of things belonging to me. Everything in all the planetary systems of the cosmos belongs to me

My immortal soul is an inseparable and indivisible portion of the abs olute spirit, paramatman, in its ultimate state I have attained the at-one-ment with the supreme spirit and I am even now experiencing the unity of my soul with the absolute spirit So aham asmi I am that