Aham Brahmasmi, one of the "Great Sayings" of Indian philosophy
"I am Brahman".
Unveiling the Truth. Exploring the Significance of Mahavakyas and Neti Neti in Vedanta.
Guest: S.A. Shreedaran, Vedanta teacher, disciple of the eminent Vedanta Philosopher Swami Parthasarathy and Co-founder of Mind & Intellect Organization.
Aham Brahmasmi, one of the "Great Sayings," of Indian philosophy, is a song celebrating the beauty of the universe and its perfect harmony. The Upanishads, which contain these expressions, represent a treasure trove of wisdom that synthesizes the fundamental truth of Advaita Vedanta. The term Aham Brahmasmi, born from Sanskrit, evokes the harmonious union between the Atman, the individual self, and Brahman, the divine Absolute that permeates the entire universe. "Aham", which means "I", and "Brahman", which denotes the spiritual and sacred essence of the universe, join together in a song celebrating the beauty of existence itself. This Mahavakya represents the ultimate goal of yoga, a path of self-discovery of one's divine nature and union with one's higher self. Yoga itself means "union", emphasizing the importance of this connection between the individual and the divine force pervading all existence. Aham Brahmasmi is one of the principal Mahavakyas.
The Mahavakyas are the "Great Expressions" of Advaita Vedanta and Jnana Yoga contained in the Upanishads. Maha means Great and Vakya means phrases or expressions for contemplation. Contemplating the Mahavakyas blends well with yoga practices, prayer, and mantra meditation. To truly grasp their meaning requires practicing contemplation and meditation in one's inner stillness and silence. Jnana yoga is the path of intellectual knowledge without doubt. It involves studying self-realization texts and deeply inquiring into our true nature, allowing us to understand the subtle workings of the mind, its attachment to sense objects, and how they create the veils of Avidya (ignorance). These expressions are tools for self-exploration used with prayer, meditation, and chanting mantras. Jnana yoga focuses specifically on contemplating the Mahavakyas. Other Mahavakyas include:
1. Prajnanam Brahma ("Brahman is consciousness")
2. Tat tvam asi ("You are that" - Brahman -)
3. Ayam atma Brahma ("This Self is Brahman")
4. Isavasyam idam sarvam ("All this is pervaded by the Lord")
5. Prana eva ("Breath itself is Brahman")
6. Prajnana atma ("Consciousness alone is the Self")
According to Shankaracharya, Narayana Guru, and other thinkers and spiritual leaders, the essence of the Upanishads is the same: all Mahavakyas essentially convey the same message—that we are one with Brahman. As one teacher put it:"If we realize we are one with Brahman (God), we can love ourselves and all beings. Realizing you and I are part of Brahman, how can we hate or destroy each other? Hurting others is hurting myself."
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