VOICE OF THE RISHIS - 22

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Priya Bhagavat Banduvullara!

 

VOICE OF THE RISHIS – 22

 

" AATMA DEEPO BHAVA "

 

" Let your, `atman', soul, be your light " is the greatest ancient

saying emphasizing that the self-realization comes through self-

effort. This script makes us realize the strength of our inner

soul. And this demands us to take advantage of our soul force as

the guiding force as the guiding light in our life's journey towards

self-realization, known as " Aatma Darsan " .

 

Aspirants of Moksha or self-realization take up several ways

according to degree of their evolution or thinking or meditation.

Some fast and some follow the instructions of Guru or follow several

other ways. Some go on singing hymns in praise of the Lord for

several hours. All these methods doubtless help the individual in

creating an ethos of purity and prayerful situations.

 

But this text " Aatma deepo bhava " , " let your own soul be your

light " , has a unique message for the aspirant. It stresses the

method of looking inwardly for guidance and make soul as the

torchbearer. In Gita there is a very significant sloka " Uddharet

Aatma naatmanam " " Lift up your soul with your own soul " , " Your soul

is your friend and also proves your enemy " . Your soul is your close

relative, take its help. Again another ancient text says, " Budhasya

aatmani devatha " . " The wise consider `atman', the soul, as God

itself " .

 

While other methods of holy ways may be helpful to the aspirant

at some stages, ultimately he has to look in and illumine his way

through his own lamp, the " Soul " .