YOU YOURSELF ARE GOD

\         “ You yourself are God: There is no need  to search for Him anywhere” declares Bhagawan Sri Sri Sathya Saibaba. We are all very happy to think that we are God Himself. Outwardly it gives us great pleasure to think and imagine that we are equal to that indescribable entity called God. To compare ourselves to God who is formless and without attributes is very difficult. The God we know has many forms and names. God has wonderful powers. He is called the creator, protector and destroyer also. How can these qualities apply to us?  The Upanishads proclaim that Atma or Soul is the Brahman. “ ayamatma  Brahma”—This Atma is Brahman. Again the Upanishad confirms, “ Aham Brahmasmi”—I myself am Brahman. Being mortals as we are it is intriguing to think that we are God Himself! Then why does Swami declare that you yourself are God? In what way can we accept that we are God? We have to go a little deeper to understand the statement of Swami.

The very purpose of man on earth is to realize himself.  In other words he has to realize that he is not the body that is destroyed ultimately but the Atma or Soul that is eternal, indestructible and without attributes. The pity is that man identifies himself with the body rather than the soul. He is always concerned about his body but not the Atma embedded in the innermost recess of his heart. A simple logic establishes that the body and soul are different and separate. When you say” This is my hand”  hand  is separate and you are separate. You are not the hand. You are the owner of the hand. That owner is the Atma  or Soul that is the root cause of all action or ‘chaitanya’.  Arjuna is baffled on the battlefield of Kurukshetra  on  seeing his own kith and kin and mentors .He lays down his Gandiva and arrows and refuses to kill his own brothers and gurus! He does not want to enjoy the bloody meal.  He prefers sanyasa  to such a gory deed. It is then the Lord admonishes Arjuna and explains to him the nature of the Atma or Soul and the body. “ Naim chindantisastrani nainam dahati pavaka….” Atma cannot be wounded by arms or burnt by fire. It cannot be made wet or dried by air . It is indestructible, eternal as opposed to the transient and perishable body. Arjuna’ doubts vanish and he rises to do his Swadharma, the duty of a Kshatriya.

We are under the illusion that we are independent and act accordingly. Not a single act of ours is independent! Everything is dictated by the Atma or Soul that is present in everyone in the universe. Our Indtriyas do their activities egged on by the Atma  or Soul that is equated to the Brahman of the Upanishad. The Upanishad asserts  “ the eyes see not but That by which the eyes are made to see, know that as the Brahman. The ears hear not but That by which the ears are made to hear know that as the Brahman. We are all enveloped by Maya or illusion and it is impossible to get rid of it. Under its influence  we cosider the right as wrong and the wrong as right, The cycle of samsara has led man to a materialistic existence devoid of the thought of God.  He considers life on earth as permanent  forgetting that the frail body has to fall sooner or later. There is no time for him to think of God and the significance of the Atma in the body which is Brahman itself! The understanding should dawn upon man that he is not the body but a chip of the same block namely God Himself!

We must understand that the Atma or God  Or Soul in our body is the same in all the creatures in the universe. God is the cause of chaitanya or any form of activity. “ Ekah Paratma bahudehavarthi” say our sastras. Like the clay that forms into different pots and sizes, gold that forms into different jewels, and milk that is collected from different cows, the original object is the same. Atma is ONE but it resides in different bodies. We attach importance to the forms and bodies but not the Atma within! That is the root cause of all trouble. Atma  or God or Brahman has no form, color, name, or any attachment!  It is immortal, eternal! We are deeply attached to our families, kith and kin and property! That prevents us from realizing the Atma or God. The best way to realize  oneself is to detach yourself from these material bonds! But it is not very easy to achieve. Desires have to be curtailed. The effect of the inner adversaries or Arishadvargas has to be annulled or controlled to the maximum to come near god realization.

The company of sadhus and devotees will go a long way in developing the most important quality of Detachment. Compassion for all and service to the needy and the downtrodden is nothing but service to God who is in their hearts! Service to others helps in removing your ego or Ahankara! Over indulgence in family life should be avoided. Japa or repetition of God’s name or chanting shall help in concentration on God which shall surely lead to realization of God .The story of sage Valmiki, who transformed himself into “Adi Kavi” of the Ramayana is a classical example!  Let us, therefore, try to realize what we are and recognize the Divinity in us and improve it further for our own emancipation!!!!