Q: There are Atmas in everybody. Atma is amsha or part of supreme reality. So, is there a bonding or attachment between people?
A: The question is, there are Atmas in everybody. Atma is amsha or part of supreme reality. So, is there a bonding or attachment between people?
Now, let us understand this. Sunlight reflects. Sun is only one. It reflects in the river, it reflects in stone, it reflects in the mirror. The reflections are many. How many Suns are there? Sun is only one. Similarly, only one Paramatma is there. That Paramatma reflects in many body and mind complexes. In a body, mind, intellect complex, intellect is the sharpest and most clear surface for reflection.
So, a reflection of Paramatma is maximum in the intellect. Now, the reflection appears to be a Jiva, an individual soul. So, how many individual souls are there? There are as many as the reflected surfaces which are present. This person, that person, that person, like that. But this reflection has no existence of its own. Only original is real. How many originals are there? Only one.
In our illusion, we start thinking that each of this reflected soul has an independent existence which is not true. Because we identify the individual soul with the body and not by the soul. The soul is just a reflection of the Supreme. So, reflection has no existence. Only the Supreme has existence. So, should you see the reflection, or should you see the original?
I will give another example that will make you understand more easily. You have a dream. In your dream, you go to a zoo. In that zoo, there is a tiger, there is an elephant, there is a crocodile, and there is a zookeeper. There are many people, who are visiting the zoo. You tell me, how many beings are there in your dream? Many. Are they real? They are just your projections of the mind. And who is there in all of them? Only you. You are seeing them as different beings through your mental projection.
In reality, only you existed. In reality, in this universe, only Paramatma exists. And he appears as many. Reality is only one Supreme Reality, Paramatma. Everything else is a reflection. Now, will there be an attachment? There will be attachment, if you are confusing the body, with the soul, body with the Jivatma. The moment you understand that the Jivatma is real and the body is only a vehicle, then pure love develops, not attachment. Attachment is for the body and love is for the Atma, the Self.
For example, somebody is sitting in a car. You say, ‘I love you’. Are you saying that you are loving the car? Or you are loving the person sitting inside the car? Similarly, the body is a vehicle. And Atma, Jivatma is sitting inside. So, when you say, ‘I love you’, your love is not for the body, but for the Jivatma, if you understand that then, there is only pure love. When it is for the body, it is called attachment. Because the body is an individual whereas Jivatma is universal.
That love is called Bhakti, Devotion or pure love. That pure love is called ‘Para Bhakti’, the highest love. Whereas, the bhakti, which we do, without understanding the principle of Divine, Consciousness, is called ‘Apara Bhakti’, the lower-level bhakti.
Q: Sometimes, we feel, we are connected to someone, not related to us. We feel, we are connected mentally, or something like that. What is that?
A: We feel that we are connected, that connection can happen at the physical level. The connection can happen at the mental level. The connection can happen at an intellectual level. The connection can happen at the Atma level. Which of them is true? Which connection is the true connection? Atma level. Everything else is a temporary, apparent phenomenon.
The real connection is the connection of the Self, Atma, Atma Jyoti, light of the Self. The rest of them are there because of some relatedness which can be mental, physical, psychological level, feel connected to someone. The only real, eternal connection is of the Self. That’s called Atma.
All these things are coming and going. Today, you may feel connected. Tomorrow, you may feel disconnected. Don’t bother about these temporary connections. Look for a permanent connection.
Pranams
References:
Self Knowledge_Talk 8_Eternal Relationships_05Apr2016