Atma Bodh – Part I
Mistaken Identity
Dec. 12 – Dec. 16, 2011
(Discourses conducted by Swami Sarveshananda at Chinmaya Chitrakoot, CM D/FW) 
Have you found the real eternal Happiness that you’ve been looking for? If not, it is probably due to our mistaken identities. Avidya, forgetfulness of our true nature – that of the glorious Self, can be eradicated only by Vidya (knowledge) which acts as a purifier. Various processes such as Shravanam (listening), Mananam (contemplation) and Nidhidhyasanam (practical application of the knowledge) enables wisdom to shine through us and helps develop the sharp subtle intellect. Trying to find that sara (essence) or eternal bliss in this samsara (external world of “becoming”) is futile. We fail to recognize the non-dual nature of Bramhan because we can’t get beyond the names and forms that we have imposed upon the different expressions of the Supreme Consciousness. Endowed with the supreme vision, we can perceive divinity that exists everywhere. Bramhan, the Supreme Consciousness expresses itself as the sentient and insentient existence. The entire creation is an combination and expression of the five nascent elements. Know that the Sthoola sharira (gross body) is bhogayatanam – an abode for experiencing the joys and sorrows; while the mind, intellect, organs of action & perception along with the pancha pranas is the sukshamaamgam (Shookshma sharira or the subtle body) that enables us to interact with the external world of objects; and the Karana sharira (causal body) is the root cause of our ignorance. If these three bodies are other than our real Self, why do we mistake the Self to have attributes that belong to these three bodies? Disidentification with these three upadhis (conditioning due to close proximity) has to be done by ruthlessly discarding wrong notions and applying the process of negation. Conviction born out of clarity that “I am NOT the body, mind, or intellect” will enable us to identify with the true eternal immortal glorious Self, whose nature itself is that of complete bliss and happiness. The pursuit of happiness will no longer be necessary because we come to realize that eternal bliss and happiness reside within us as our own integral nature.
