THE SELF WITHIN

AUM SRI SAI RAM AUM SRI SAI RAM The knowledge of self (Brahman,Atman) is described in the scriptures as supreme as it removes ignorance which is the cause for attachment or bondage.The scriptures dealing with self-knowledge classify all other knowledge as relative.Education is nothing but a waste until the student learns about the self, that is Brahmavidya.Bhagavan Sri Krishna tells Arjuna in Gita ' I am the Amta- the self residing in all beings,-the begining ,the middle and the end of all beings ,nothing exists other than the Atma or the self 'Atma or Self is known as awareness.It is this awareness that is responsible for the 'I' conciousness in all beings which is called Aham.When this Aham identifies itself with the body it becomes Ahamkaram. This is the false 'I'and not the real 'i'What hides the Atma is the mind.The clouds that are formed due to the heat of sun hide the sun itself.Similarly the mind which is the offspring of the Atma hides the Atma itself.As long as mind is there the man can not under stand anything about the self.Hence the spiritual seeker has to undergo several sadhanas for seeking the Self.As long as the mind is there ,the desire will not leave you .As long as the desires are there, the false notion of'I' will not leave you.Hence the best kind of sadhana for seeking the Self is directed towards the destruction of mind.In Kaliyuga the best prescribed path for the destruction of mind is the Namasmaran- the chanting constantly the different names of the Almighty.There is no fixed rule for this .One may chant or one may sing according to one's taste.When you engage this sadhana ,expel bad thoughts, bad feelings, bad tendencies from the mind.Automatically it will happen.Your mind will be filled with noble feelings ,sacred habits, when you chant or sing. The body or the prana can not be the self as they are neither concious nor intelligent.It is the Buddhi or the intellect which makes one identify the self and non-self aspects of one's personalities.Hence the buddhi or the intellect is responsible for both the bondage and liberation.Hence all our spiritual practices are so designed that the role of Buddhi should be predominant