PART – 1
Let us contemplate on ‘Tat Tvam Asi’. On ‘Tat’ and ‘Tvam’ we have already contemplated, let us understand ‘Asi’. ‘Asi’ means, ‘Is’ – ‘You are’. The essential meaning of Tat and the essential meaning of Tvam, we have realized – it is the Supreme Consciousness, Pure Awareness, Prajnana, or Brahma.
Now, let us understand the meaning of ‘Asi’. ‘Asi’ implies, ‘You are the same’. Now, who will understand they are the same? Because, from Supreme Reality’s point of view, there is nothing else which exists. There is nothing else to be known, there is nobody else to be known, there is no knowledge, no ignorance, there is Pure Awareness and there is only Prajnana or the Supreme Awareness.
PART – 2
But, from the individual’s point of view, like me, there is something to realize. I am suffering, as an individual. I am feeling I am limited, I have a body, mind and I feel I am suffering. For me, there is something to realize. It is a great thing for me, if I am able to realize that Reality. This is called Self realization, Atma Jnana, also called as Brahma Jnana, because that Supreme Reality is Brahman. It is all-pervading Reality of the universe.
So, from the individual point of view, there is a very significant achievement. From the Self’s point of view, there is nothing to be realized. It is already Self evident. But, as an individual, I have something to realize. This is called Self realization or Atma Jnana. That’s why, ‘Atma darshanam Brahma darshanam, Brahma darshanam Satya darshanam’. To know the Self, is to know the Brahman or the Supreme Reality. To know the Brahman, is to know the Truth. This is the realization.
PART – 3
Now, the question comes – the Self is a transcendental Reality. I am, an individual, is an empirical Reality. So, empirical Reality can never realize transcendental Reality, and transcendental Reality can never understand empirical Reality. There is nothing called transcendental Reality and empirical Reality. Then what is realization all about? There is only one possibility of realization – empirical Self has Buddhi, the intellect. The intellect shines in the light of the Self – Atmajyothi. There is a reflected light in the Buddhi, which makes Buddhi a knower of the empirical Reality. Buddhi becomes the master of the body-mind complex, it becomes the knower because of the light which is shining in Buddhi. It is a reflected light of Consciousness in Buddhi. The Buddhi being a clean surface, the reflected light is maximum.
Now, the Buddhi is able to reveal the Self, provided its ignorance is gone – Ajnana, Avidya is gone. Buddhi has three qualities – Satva Guna, Rajo Guna, Tamo Guna. Tamo Guna is responsible for the forgetfulness of the Self nature. Rajo Guna projects the body, mind and world, in the form of thoughts. Through Atma Vichara, through Self-enquiry, through Viveka and Vairagya, if you are able to reduce Rajo Guna and Tamo Guna, then Buddhi will become pure Satva. That Satva Guna Buddhi will realize that empirical Self is unreal. Why does it realize that empirical Self unreal? Because, Rajo Guna is gone. When Rajo Guna is gone, there is no projection to happen. The world is not there. When Tamo Guna goes, the forgetfulness goes. So, Buddhi is able to reflect the Self, and Self is able to reflect the Buddhi. Buddhi merges with the Self, Satva Guna merges with ‘Sat’ aspect of Brahman – existence aspect of Brahman. And, the Supreme Bliss is experienced.
PART – 4
The example is, you put a lamp in a dome with holes. The light coming from the holes, indicates the presence of lamp inside. So, the lamp and the dome show each other. Similarly, the reflected Consciousness in Buddhi gives the Buddhi the ability of knowership and mastery over the body. So, the presence of reflected Consciousness in the Buddhi, in the form of knowership, shows the presence of the Self, Atma. At the same time, the Sakshi or the witness, is able to see the modifications in the Buddhi. For the Self, Buddhi is an object. Self is able to see modifications in Buddhi, Buddhi is able to reflect or show the Self.
PART – 5
So, when the impurities in Buddhi, in terms of Tamo Guna and Rajo Guna is gone, Buddhi becomes pure, full of Satva. That Satva Guna fully reflects the Consciousness, and Satva Guna merges with ‘Sat’, means existence or truth, aspect of Atma. So, there is a union. Now, there is no suppression of mind. The mind has become purified of Rajo Guna and Tamo Guna. And, the purest part of mind, ‘Sat’ part of mind, has merged with Self. That is called Self realization. That Self realization is nothing but Brahman realization or Supreme Reality. They are one and the same. Supreme Bliss is experienced in this process.
So, what is the realization? The realization that the world, and the body, and the mind are not real. Because, when Rajo Guna goes, thoughts go. There is no world, there is no body. Then, when Satva Guna becomes pure, I am Brahman, I am the Self. Because, this Satva Guna merges with the ‘Sat’. Then, you are Brahman, that realization sets in. This is how realization happens.
Pranams