Ques on MahaBhrarta. Peep in/ DT Nt pg 25 - Page 21

About "Aham Brhmasmi":

Literal meaning is, a soul who is one with God.

Its a state of reaching Turiyatita avastha. When one transcends 3 different state of consciousness- waking, dreaming & dreamless sleep. Through meditation, 4th state- Turiya is reached. It is unconditioned consciousness. Soul has realised it's "self".

Moving further, Turiyatita, is 5th state of consciousness. Here self is replaced by SELF. ie, soul is SELF realised. This state can be reached through higher meditation. Here, one merges with Brhaman. This is, "Aham Brhamasmi".

Originally posted by: mnx12

About "Aham Brhmasmi":

Literal meaning is, a soul who is one with God.

Its a state of reaching Turiyatita avastha. When one transcends 3 different state of consciousness- waking, dreaming & dreamless sleep. Through meditation, 4th state- Turiya is reached. It is unconditioned consciousness. Soul has realised it's "self".

Moving further, Turiyatita, is 5th state of consciousness. Here self is replaced by SELF. ie, soul is SELF realised. This state can be reached through higher meditation. Here, one merges with Brhaman. This is, "Aham Brhamasmi".

Now, if we go back billions of years when the cosmos was created, we would notice that the ‘creator’ or the ‘God’ were the primordial elements and energy that created everything! Billions of years later, it is the same elements and energy that has created YOU and everything around you. Here YOU mean you me and everyone around us ; In other words, YOU and all the creations are the same as the CREATOR. No dualism. Aham Brahmasmi!

And the best thing is this - when you really imbibe the depth and true purport of the Advaita philosophy and ‘Aham Brahmasmi’, you will be in supreme harmony with everything around you - plants, trees, animals, people, nature… the entire cosmos!

And when that happens, you will realize that YOU --like other people and other creations in nature are nothing but a part of a huge organism!! And you will stop discriminating and hating. The strength of the whole is the part and the strength of the part is the whole! Thanks once again.🤗

Am trying to explain from the workable pov.

How can this state be achieved.

Agreed, all the detailed theoretical explanations about AB concept. But knowing & experiencing are two different aspects. When one knows, mind is full of various reasons. When one attempts a bit to practically experience this amazing concept, mind stops, it becomes quiet. That is a major step towards becoming AB.

Agreed Minaxi, there’s a world of difference between intellectually understanding something, and truly knowing and experiencing something. Let us analyse this way--

In many foreign universities, there is an opportunity to take a year and experience things you wanted before becoming a student in a college!! Students often use this opportunity to join an outreach community service program . Why does a school provide students such a long period, which may disturb students’ academic performance? It is because they know the importance of experience, knowing instead of knowledge. People go to schools to obtain knowledge, but they often lack experience because they are often limited to the school area as well as are under pressure of getting decent grades. When comparing the difference between knowledge and experience, the medical student is the best example, here again knowledge is essential, but without experience, one will always remain an amateur! I think --Knowledge fuels creativity. Creativity is just connecting things with one's knowledge through an imaginary experience !! When you ask creative people how they did something, they feel a little hesitant to answer, because they didn't really do it, they just experienced it before expressing it!! Though Knowing and experience are interdependent, there is a vast difference between them as you rightly mentioned Minaxi . 🤗

Originally posted by: mnx12

Am trying to explain from the workable pov.

How can this state be achieved.

Agreed, all the detailed theoretical explanations about AB concept. But knowing & experiencing are two different aspects. When one knows, mind is full of various reasons. When one attempts a bit to practically experience this amazing concept, mind stops, it becomes quiet. That is a major step towards becoming AB.

The Knowing may take place in a brief, spontaneous altered state of consciousness, or simply by an abrupt, strong flood of thought. Either mode is sure to get one’s attention and there will be no doubt that something extraordinary has occurred!! The knowledge given in this manner may be previously unknown to the recipient, or it may involve something of which the recipient had prior knowledge, but which had not taken deep root in our spiritual awareness!!

A characteristic aspect of this type of knowing is that it is unexpected, and sometimes powerful and overwhelming. It is a spiritual experience unlike anything we may have witnessed before. This is in contrast to faith and belief which are somewhat abstract, intentional commitments that one makes regarding religious and spiritual matters. That is not to say that spiritual experience cannot arise from foundations of faith, but rather faith and belief are not experiences in and of themselves! One may have faith and believe that there is a God, accepting His existence as a concept. Whereas, a Knowing would be to palpably experience His presence and qualities in an altered state of awareness! Yes, Mina , agreed, that is a major step towards becoming AB! 😊

Now, I want to ask TM, what has he/she learnt, understood, gained, from answers given by members here.

Knowing about seeker's understanding is important too since answers given are at a different level. Just reading content portrayed in different words, does satisfy basic thurst of gaining knowledge. At the same time putting them in practice takes one to a different journey.

So dear TM, let us know about your journey, it has already begun or not?

Originally posted by: mnx12

Now, I want to ask TM, what has he/she learnt, understood, gained, from answers given by members here.

Knowing about seeker's understanding is important too since answers given are at a different level. Just reading content portrayed in different words, does satisfy basic thurst of gaining knowledge. At the same time putting them in practice takes one to a different journey.

So dear TM, let us know about your journey, it has already begun or not?

I am trying to put everything in practice, and that's the hardest path to be honest. But I guess I will have to take baby steps first; what about the others who walked on this path?

Thanks to the members for the interesting answers and discussion.

Originally posted by: paartha

Thanks to the members for the interesting answers and discussion.

I am a bit busy at present, would love to be back here to know more and more from the revered members here.

Thanks for bringing it to the forefront Partha. 🤗

Thank you Viswasruti. Yes, the discussion has been very interesting. Thanks for your insights on these topics.