Finding Your True Self: Lessons from the Ancient Atma Shatakam - (Podcast).
How an 8th Century Hindu Text Frees Us from Ego.
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In the hustle and bustle of modern life, it's easy to get caught up in external titles, roles and identities - I'm a parent, a spouse, an employee, a writer. But the ancient Vedantic text Atma Shatakam reminds us that these temporary labels are not our fundamental truth.
Composed by the renowned 8th-century Hindu philosopher Adi Shankaracharya, the Atma Shatakam powerfully articulates the distinction between our ephemeral identities and our eternal, immutable self or atman. "I am not the mind, the intellect, the ego or the memory. Nor am I the ears, the skin, the nose or the eyes," the text declares. In other words, we are not defined by our thoughts, personality, memories or senses which are constantly fluctuating.
Podcast about the Atma Shatakam.
So what are we beyond all these changing attributes? The Atma Shatakam reveals our true nature is sat-chit-ananda - being, awareness and bliss. Our sense of existence - our very being or sat - never alters and persists through the passing phases of life. We are the pure consciousness or chit that experiences but remains unchanged. And the bliss or ananda is the peace that comes from recognizing our connectedness to all existence, no longer identifying with individual small selves.
This timeless wisdom resonates profoundly today. In a world obsessed with external labels and self-image, the Atma Shatakam is a grounding reminder to look within. You are not your job title relationship status or possessions. You are not your successes or failures, talents or weaknesses, or the opinions of others about you. You are the boundless life force that animates your body. You are the stillness that observes the chatter of your mind. You are part of the interconnected web of life.
The Atma Shatakam invites us to live from this space of authenticity and freedom, no longer chained to ego. Your true self is already perfect and complete. Connecting to your inner being allows you to approach the ups and downs of life with equanimity and compassion. External identities will come and go, but your essential nature is unchanged, like the sky untouched amidst passing clouds.
So the next time you find yourself stressed or doubtful, remember the wisdom of the Atma Shatakam - you are not those transient identities. You are sat-chit-ananda. When you live from that truth, you live fully.
“Neither am I the Mind nor the Intelligence or Ego,
Neither am I the organs of Hearing (Ears) nor that of Tasting (Tongue), Smelling (Nose) or Seeing (Eyes),
Neither am I the Sky, nor the Earth, Neither the Fire nor the Air,
I am the Ever Pure Blissful Consciousness; I am Shiva, I am Shiva,
The Ever Pure Blissful Consciousness.“
Read the full Atma Shatakam, by following this link.
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