NidhidhyAsanam Aham BrahmAsmi

[Guest guest]

Namste, all

 

The following story is often quoted while teaching the Mahavakya, “Aham

BrahmAsmiâ€. I am sure it is known to most of the members of the group, but I

thought I would post it.

A king lost his son, while he was just around seven years old or so. Since then

the king has been searching all the possible places for his lost son. After

around fifteen years, his Minister came and told him that he found his son in

the midst of a group of beggars and he would bring him soon to the palace. The

boy now around 22 years or so was brought to the palace and the king also

recognized him. The boy was made the prince of the country, and the boy felt

very happy over this change and he now knows he is not a beggar but actually a

prince. Here, the knower itself is the known and there is no separate object.

Similar is the case with the Mahavakya.

However, after a few weeks, the prince was taken to a temple, where after

darshan, though he was dressed as a prince, he saw sweets being distributed to

some beggars outside the temple. To the surprise of all, the prince also went to

the person distributing sweets and stretched both his hands to receive his

share, for a moment forgetting that he is actually a prince. This is habitual

error as earlier for a long period he was a beggar and the begging tendency was

inherent in him though he was no more a beggar.

Similarly, even after realizing or recognizing “Aham BrahmAsmi†such

habitual errors take place every now and then, and one must continuously

remember this Mahavakya and not allow/ignore such habitual errors. Nidhidhyasana

is such dwelling on this Knowledge all the time in addition to continuous

sravana and manana.

" Tat sravanam, tat kadhanam, tat paraspara bodhanam " .

With kind regards

 

 

R. S. Mani

 

 

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