अहं ब्रह्मास्मि
Aham Brahmāsmi
- I am Brahman - I am Spirit Soul -
Aham Brahmasmi: (Sanskrit: अहं ब्रह्मास्मि aham brahmāsmi) "I am Brahman" I am Spirit Soul.
Brahman means: spiritual, and aham-brahmasmi means: I am a spirit soul. I am not this body."The symptoms of the self-realized person are given herein. The first symptom is that he is not illusioned by the false identification of the body with his true self. He knows perfectly well that he is not this material body, but spirit soul, the fragmental portion of the Supreme Personality of Godhead." (Bg 5.20, Purport by Srila Prabhupada)
"He knows that he is not this body and that this body does not belong to him. He himself belongs to Krsna, and the body too belongs to Krsna. When he applies everything produced of the body, mind, intelligence, words, life, wealth, etc.-whatever he may have within his possession-to Krsna's service, he is at once dovetailed with Krsna. He is one with Krsna and is devoid of the false ego that leads one to believe that he is the body, etc. This is the perfect stage of Krsna consciousness."
Bg 5.11, Purport by Srila Prabhupada
"Even though a person may be in full knowledge that he is not this body but is transcendental to the body, he still may not be able to discriminate between the soul and the Supersoul. However, he can know everything well if he cares to take shelter of the perfect, bona fide Krsna conscious spiritual master."
Bg 5.16, Purport by Srila Prabhupada
"The symptoms of the self-realized person are given herein. The first symptom is that he is not illusioned by the false identification of the body with his true self. He knows perfectly well that he is not this body, but is the fragmental portion of the Supreme Personality of Godhead."
Bg 5.20, Purport by Srila Prabhupada
"The material conception of life makes us very eager to receive honor from others, but from the point of view of a man in perfect knowledge-who knows that he is not this body-anything, honor or dishonor, pertaining to this body is useless. One should not be hankering after this material deception."
Bg 13.8-12, Purport by Srila Prabhupada
"Aham brahmasmi: I am spirit. It is said that one should understand that he is Brahman, spirit soul. This Brahman conception of life is also in devotional service, as described in this verse. The pure devotees are transcendentally situated on the Brahman platform, and they know everything about transcendental activities."
Bg 7.29, Purport by Srila Prabhupada
[False ego means accepting this body as oneself. When one understands that he is not his body and is spirit soul, he comes to his real ego. Ego is there. False ego is condemned, but not real ego. In the Vedic literature (Brhad-aranyaka Upanisad 1.4.10) it is said, aham brahmasmi: I am Brahman, I am spirit. This "I am," the sense of self, also exists in the liberated stage of self-realization. This sense of "I am" is ego, but when the sense of "I am" is applied to this false body it is false ego. When the sense of self is applied to reality, that is real ego.]
Bg 13.8-12, Purport by Srila Prabhupada
["I am not American. I am not Indian. I am not brahmana. I am not ksatriya. I am not human being." Aham brahmasmi: "I am Brahman." Not the Supreme Brahman, but part and parcel of Brahman. Supreme Brahman is Krsna, Parabrahman. He is addressed as Parabrahman. So we are part and parcel of Brahman. Therefore we are Brahman. So we have to realize this position. Aham brahmasmi: "I am Brahman." I am not this machine. I am put into this machine, but because the machine is gotten either from America or from India or from heaven or from hell, I am designating this machine as American machine or Indian machine. Actually this machine belongs to Krsna, and it should be used for Krsna. Therefore the definition of bhakti means hrsikena hrsikesa-sevanam bhaktir ucyate [Cc. Madhya 19.170]. This is bhakti.]
Bhagavad Gita 2.1-11, Lecture by Srila Prabhupada, Johannesburg, Oct 17, 75
[Immediately he becomes. We are trying to become, to understand aham brahmasmi. So this realization immediately become effective if one is a pure devotee. Mam ca yo 'vyabhicarena bhakti-yogena sevate, sa gunan samatityaitan [Bg. 14.26]. He is above all these three qualities. So if actually you want to make classless society, then you have to accept this Krsna consciousness movement. There is no other way. If you make artificially classless society, it will never be effective. The Communists are trying to make classless society. That classless society can be formed on spiritual platform, not on the material platform. This will be artificial. Panditah sama-darsinah [Bg. 5.18]. When one is actually advanced in knowledge... Advanced with knowledge means one should understand that "I am eternal servant of Krsna, or God." That is advancement of knowledge. Aham brahmasmi: "I am not this body, I am spirit soul. And Krsna is the supreme soul. I am part and parcel of Krsna." Brahma-bhutah prasannatma na socati na kanksati [Bg. 18.54]. Simply by understanding that "I am spirit soul, I am Brahman," will not help us. You must act like Brahman. Then it will be... Janma, guna-karma-vibhagasah [Bg. 4.13].]
Bhagavad Gita 2.2-6, Lectures by Srila Prabhupada, Ahmedabad, Dec 11, 1972
[Just try to understand how much ignorant we are. We are all in ignorance. This education is wanted because people, by this ignorance, they're fighting with one another. One nation is fighting with another, one religionist is fighting with another religionist. But it is all based on ignorance. I am not this body. Therefore sastra says, yasyatma-buddhih kunape tri-dhatuke [SB 10.84.13]. Atma-buddhih kunape, this is a bag of bones and muscles, and it is manufactured by three dhatus. Dhatu means elements. According to Ayur-vedic system: kapha, pitta, vayu. Material things. So therefore I am a spirit soul. I am part and parcel of God. Aham brahmasmi. This is the Vedic education. Try to understand that you do not belong to this material world. You belong to the spiritual world. You are part and parcel of God. Mamaivamso jiva-bhutah [Bg. 15.7]. In the Bhagavad-gita, God says that "All living entities are My part and parcels." Manah sasthanindriyani prakrti-sthani karsati [Bg. 15.7].]
Bhagavad Gita 2.11, Lectures by Srila Prabhupada, Edinburgh, July 16, 1972
[In the Srimad-Bhagavatam, those who are under the bodily concept of life, they are described as follows: Yasya atma-buddhih. Atma means self. Atma-buddhih, in this body, what is this body? Kunape tri-dhatuke. It is a bag of three elements, kapha, pitta, vayu. Mucus, bile and air. So, or ordinarily you can understand, this is a combination, this material body is combination of flesh, bone, blood, mucus, stool, urine, and so many other things. That, we are not self, but the foolish persons, they are taking this lump of matter, bones and flesh, accepting that "I am this body." No learned man will take like that. The whole world is misled under this conception. They are accepting this lump of matter, blood and flesh and bones-"I am this is I am." This is animal mentality. Animal thinks like that, not learned man. Learned man, one who knows, he will sayaham brahmasmi, "I am spirit soul. I am servant of God." This is learned speaking."I am not this body."]
Bhagavad Gita 2.11, Lectures by Srila Prabhupada, London, Aug 17, 73
[Out of many millions of persons, one becomes siddha, perfect. So that perfection is not complete perfection. That perfection means aham brahmasmi: "I am not this material body; I am spirit soul." So one who understands this position of oneself is calculated as perfect, but yatatamapi siddhanam [Bg. 7.3], in that perfect stage if one endeavors to understand Krsna, yatatam api siddhanam kascid, out of many such millions of persons who trying to understand Krsna in perfection, one may understand. So it is not so easy. Janma karma ca me divyam yo jana... [Bg. 4.9], again tattvatah. That factual understanding is possible. How it is possible? Bhaktya mam abhijanati yavan yas casmi tattvatah [Bg. 18.55]. Only through devotion you can understand. So these problems will be solved when you become a devotee.]
Bhagavad Gita 2.11, Lectures by Srila Prabhupada, Rotary Club Address -- Hotel Imperial, Delhi, March 25, 76
[So this is the position for everyone. You ask any learned scientist, professor, "Who are you?" He'll say, "I am Mr. John." He'll say, "I am Mr. John, I am American," or "I am Mexican," "I am Indian," like that. So this is ignorance. Nobody is this body. That is the first lesson of spiritual knowledge. So long we identify with this body, that "I am Mr. Such-and- such," "I am American," "I am Indian," this is all ignorance. When you actually understand that you are not this body-therefore you are not American, nor Indian nor Mexican, but you are spirit soul-then your spiritual education begins. And that is... In Sanskrit it is called aham brahmasmi: "I am spirit soul." Spiritual... Spirit soul has no connection with this material world. When one understands fully this, I mean to say, fact, that spirit soul is different from this material world, then he's actually learned. In that stage he's called situated in brahma-bhutah stage. The symptom of brahma-bhutah is brahma-bhutah prasannatma [Bg. 18.54]. As soon as one becomes self-realized, he becomes jubilant, jolly. So long one identifies with this body, he is unhappy, full of anxiety.]
Bhagavad Gita 2.12, Lectures by Srila Prabhupada, Mexico, Feb 12, 75
[So first of all you have to understand that we are spirit soul, aham brahmasmi, Brahman."I am not matter, I am spirit," aham brahmasmi. These are Vedic words, so 'ham. So 'ham does not mean "I am God." I am God-ly-I am part and parcel of. As God is in quality, so I am also in quality. Just like a drop of ocean water, qualitatively it is the same as the vast mass of water in the sea, but not the drop of water is equal to the vast mass of water. Similarly, in quality, so 'ham, "I am," that means the Supreme God, as He is in quality, I am also the same in quality. So 'ham. Aham brahmasmi, "I am Brahman. I am not this matter, I am spirit soul." These are the knowledge. So when one comes to that knowledge, brahma-bhutah... Now we are not brahma-bhutah, prakrta-bhutah, jiva-bhutah, the exact word. Jiva-bhutam maha-baho yayedam dharyate jagat [Bg. 7.5]. The world is being maintained by this jiva-bhutah, by the living entities.]
Bhagavad Gita 2.13, Lectures by Srila Prabhupada, Manila, Oct 12, 1972
[Prabhupada: ...tatha dehantara-praptir dhiras tatra na muhyati [Bg. 2.13]. We began this verse yesterday. This is the criterion of understanding spiritual life. People generally do not understand that there is another element beyond this body. Generally, people, they are under the impression that "I am this body. I am Indian." Why I am Indian? Because this body's born in India. Therefore, I'm Indian."I am American." Why? "Because body is born in America; therefore I am American." Similarly, this dehatma-buddhih, bodily concept of life, is going on all over the world. This is ignorance, ajnana. This is called ajnana. Jnana and ajnana. Jnana means one who knows that he is not this body. He's spirit soul. Aham brahmasmi.]
Bhagavad Gita 2.13, Lectures by Srila Prabhupada, Hyderbad, Nov 19th, 72
[Just like I am not this body. I am spirit soul. Aham brahmasmi. But we are giving identification with this body."I am Indian," "I am American," "I am brahmana," "I am sudra." So this is illusion.]
Bhagavad Gita 2.13, Lectures by Srila Prabhupada, Hyderbad, Nov 19, 72
[So spiritual rejuvenation required. Aham brahmasmi: "I am not this body. I am Brahman, spiritual soul." Then you will be happy. Brahma-bhutah prasannatma na socati na kanksati [Bg. 18.54], samah sarvesu... Then there will be equality, fraternity, brotherhood. Otherwise it is all bogus, simply high-sounding words. There cannot be all these things. Come to the spiritual platform, brahma-bhutah prasannatma na socati na... [Bg. 18.54], samah sarvesu bhutesu. Then you can see equally.]
Bhagavad Gita 2.13, Lectures by Srila Prabhupada, London, Aug 19, 73
[Pandita means those who are learned. Learned means brahmana, not sudra. Sudras, they are not learned. Mlecchas, yavanas, sudras, kirata- hunandhra-pulinda-pulkasa abhira [SB 2.4.18], so many. Learned means brahmana. Learned means that one who knows that Brahman. Brahman, the spirit soul, is part and parcel of the Supreme Brahman. So one who has come to that knowledge, that "I am not this body; I am spirit soul; aham brahmasmi," that is knowledge. Knowledge begins from there. If one does not reach to that point, aham brahmasmi, then he is animal. The animal thinking like that, "I am rickshaw," "I am motorcar," "I am cat," "I am dog," "I am this," "I am that." That is animal thinking. But a person... Learned thinking is that "I am not this body; I am part and parcel of the Supreme Brahman, aham brahmasmi." And when you are farther advanced from Brahman knowledge... The knowledge begins from there. When you make further advancement, then you can understand that "I am eternal servant of Krsna." This is perfect knowledge. First of all knowledge begins that "I am not this body."]
Bhagavad Gita 2.14, Lectures by Srila Prabhupada, London, Aug 20, 73
[So the simple method offered by Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu is this chanting Hare Krsna mantra. He says personally, ceto-darpana-marjanam bhava- maha-davagni-nirvapanam [Cc. Antya 20.12], means "By chanting Hare Krsna mantra your heart will be cleansed, and as soon as your heart is cleansed, you can feel everything in its proper order." So when the heart is cleansed we can understand our real position and how we are suffering and how to take steps against this suffering. This is called bhava-maha- davagni-nirvapanam, extinguishing the blazing fire of material existence. In this verse it is mentioned again, dhira. Dhira means very sober. In the beginning Krsna said, dhiras tatra na muhyati [Bg. 2.13]. Dhira means one who is sober. He is not bewildered. So dhira means that although there is cause of disturbance, one is not disturbed. Although there is cigarette, but I should promise, "I shall not smoke." Although there is facility for illicit sex, I'll not do it. That is called dhira. Dhira means the cause of agitation or disturbance is present there, but one is not disturbed. So in order to advance in spiritual life we have to become dhira. And that is said here, sama-duhkha-sukham dhiram. As soon as one become dhira, sober, these so-called material pains and pleasure does not disturb me (him). Then he is fit for becoming immortal. Everyone is immortal, but he is fallen in such material condition that he thinks himself as mortal. Because I am spirit soul, therefore the Vedic injunction that feel:(?) aham brahmasmi, so 'ham, means "I am as good as the Supreme Being," means "He is eternal; I am also eternal. He is also living being; I am also living being." That means qualitatively we are one, God and me. But quantitatively, He is great; we are small.]
Bhagavad Gita 2.15, Lectures by Srila Prabhupada, Mexico, Feb 15, 75
"You'll find in the Fourth Chapter. Ajo 'pi. Krsna is aja. Aja means who never takes birth. Similarly, we being part and parcel of Krsna, we also never take birth. The birth and death is of this body, and we are so absorbed in the bodily concept of life that when there is birth or death of the body we feel the pains and pleasures. There is no pleasure of course. Birth and death, it is very painful. Because... That is already explained. The consciousness of the soul is spread all over the body. Therefore, the pains and pleasures felt on account of this body. So Krsna has already advised that such kinds of pains and pleasure, matra-sparsas tu kaunteya [Bg. 2.14], touching the skin only, one should not be very much bothered. Tams titiksasva bharata. In this way if we think about our position, self- realization, how we are different from the body... Actually, this is meditation. If we think very seriously about ourselves and about the body, that is self-realization. Self-realization means I am not this body, I am aham brahmasmi, I am spirit soul. That is self-realization."
Bhagavad Gita 2.19, Lectures by Srila Prabhupada, London, Aug 25, 1973
[Prabhupada: Desire means material desires. If you think that you are Indian and your desire is how to make your country improve... Or so many desires. Or if you are a family man. So these are all material desires. So long you are enwrapped by material desires, then you are under the condition of material nature. As soon as you think that you are, your, you are not Indian or American, you are not a brahmana or Vaisnava, brahmana or ksatriya, you are eternal servant of Krsna, that is called purified desire. Desire is there, but you have to purify the desire. That I have explained just now. Sarvopadhi-vinirmuktam [Cc. Madhya 19.170]. These are upadhis. Suppose you are in a black coat. So does it mean you are black coat? If you say... If I ask you, "Who are you?" If you say, "I am black coat," is that the proper answer? No. Similarly, we are in a dress, American dress or Indian dress. So if somebody asks you "Who are you?" "I am Indian." That is wrong identification. If you say, "Aham brahmasmi," that is your real identification. That realization required.]
Bhagavad Gita 2.20, Lectures by Srila Prabhupada, Hyderbad, Nov 25, 72
"Take to Krsna consciousness and be happy. This is not an ordinary movement. People are suffering actually for want of spiritual life, spiritual understanding. So the basic principle of spiritual understanding is to know one's self. Aham brahmasmi. That, to come to that point, Krsna is explaining that this body is like the dress, and the person who is dressed, that is within the dress. Dehino 'smin yatha dehe [Bg. 2.13]."
Bhagavad Gita 2.22, Lectures by Srila Prabhupada, Hyderabad, Nov 26, 72
[So one who becomes realized, self-realized person, brahma-bhuta, [SB 4.30.20] brahma-bhutah prasannatma [Bg. 18.54], then what does it remain for him? That is the ultimate goal of life, tobecome aham brahmasmi. The Vedic literature teaches us that "Don't think that you belong to this matter.You are Brahman." Krsna is Parabrahman, and we are subordinate Brahman. Nitya-krsna-dasa. We are servant Brahman. He's master Brahman.]
Bhagavad Gita 2.24, Lectures by Srila Prabhupada, Hyderabad, Nov 28, 72
[Human civilization will begin when one will understand that "I am not this body. I am spirit soul."Aham brahmasmi. That is the beginning of human civilization. And so long one is under the bodily concept of life, it is the civilization of cats and dogs. That's all. Thank you very much. Hare Krsna. [break]
Indian: (Hindi) [break] Prabhupada: (answering question:) Then gradually we can understand.Ceto-darpana-marjanam [Cc. Antya 20.12]. If you associate with devotees, hear them, then gradually everything will be cleared, and you'll understand your position. Then you understand: "Oh, I am not this body." Aham brahmasmi. That is the beginning of knowledge. Otherwise, so long you are under the bodily concept of life, you are in the animal platform. That is the difference. [break] But bhakti's such a nice thing that krsnakarsini. Bhakti attract Krsna. Krsna attracts everything, but bhakti attracts Krsna. Therefore we have to adopt the bhakti means. Bhaktya mam abhijanati, yavan yas casmi tattvatah.]
Bhagavad Gita 2.25, Lectures by Srila Prabhupada, Hyderabad, Nov 29, 72
[So first of all, we have to become brahmana. Then Vaisnava. Brahmana simply knows that "I am spirit soul," aham brahmasmi. Brahma janati iti brahmana. Brahma-bhutah prasannatma [Bg. 18.54]. By such knowledge one becomes prasannatma. Means relieved. As you feel relief... When there is burden on your head, and the burden is taken away you feel relieved, similarly, this ignorance that "I am this body" is a great burden, a burden upon us. So when you get out of this burden, then you feel relieved. Brahma-bhutah prasannatma [Bg. 18.54]. Means when actually one understands that "I am not this body; I am soul," then he has to work so hard for maintaining this body, so he gets relief that "Why I am working so hard for this lump of material things? Let me execute my real necessity of life, spiritual life." That is great relief. That is great relief. Brahma-bhutah prasannatma na socati na kanksati [Bg. 18.54]. The relief means there is hankering, no more lamentation. These are the brahma-bhutah.]
Bhagavad Gita 2.25, Lectures by Srila Prabhupada, London, Aug 28, 73
[Mukti means liberation. What is the liberation? Liberation means, Bhagavata explains, hitva anyatha rupam. Anyatha rupam means a different identification. When one gives up the different identification and is established in his own real identity, that is called mukti. Now our identification is that "I am matter; therefore I am this body; therefore I belong to this country; therefore I am American; therefore I am this, I am that, I am that." You see? This is our diseased condition. So mukti means one has to be released from this wrong identification. And after giving up wrong identification, what is my real identification? Oh, I am, aham brahmasmi, I am the part and parcel of the Supreme. That's it. So if anyone is reestablished in his original constitutional position as part and parcel of the Supreme and engages his energy in that way, he is liberated. This is the definition of liberation. So it is also advised here?]
Bhagavad Gita 2.40-45, Lectures by Srila Prabhupada, Los Angeles, Dec 13, 68
[Prabhupada: Yes. That I just now explained. That is liberation. I am identified just now with this matter."I am this body, I belong to this country, I belong to this world." This is illusion. And as soon as I can understand that I belong to none of these, I belong to Krsna, that is enlightenment. Simply changing the understanding. It is not very difficult. But it is difficult one who cannot understand. That is another thing. But if one can understand this fact, then he's immediately enlightened. Just like this light, it is now enlightened. There is illumination. And as soon as the switch is off, immediately darkness. And switch is on, immediately light. So it is not very difficult to understand what is enlightenment. Enlightened means aham brahmasmi. I do not belong to this material world. I belong to the Supreme Spirit. That conviction makes you enlightened. So anyone who has got this conviction, he's enlightened. This is not very difficult.]
Bhagavad Gita 2.40-45, Lectures by Srila Prabhupada, Los Angeles, Dec 13, 68
[Brahmana means who knows that "I am not this body; I am the... I am the... I am in spirit, conscious. I am soul, spirit, consciousness," one who knows perfectly well this understanding and the science also, that "I am qualitatively one with the Supreme Lord," aham brahmasmi. The Vedic mantra says, aham brahmasmi. That means "I am Brahman. I am not this matter. I am Brahman." So one who knows this science, he is called brahmana. And that doesn't matter who is he and where he is born. That doesn't matter. Simply knowing this science...]
Bhagavad Gita 2.48-49, Lectures by Srila Prabhupada, New York, April 1, 1966
[Prabhupada: Our position is, we are constituted of this body. Body means the senses and the controller of the senses or the, what is called, driver, driver of the senses, is the mind. And mind is conducted, thinking, feeling, and willing, the psychology, the science of psychology, that is being conducted under intelligence. And above the intelligence, I am sitting. I am a spirit soul. So how we become victim of this maya, that is described here, that from anger, delusion arises, and from delusion, bewilderment of memory. Bewilderment memory. I have forgotten completely that I am not this body, I am spirit soul, aham brahmasmi; I am part and parcel of the Supreme Brahman, spirit, absolute whole. That I have forgotten. And when memory is bewildered, and as soon as I forget that I am spirit soul, I identify myself with this material world, illusion. Intelligence is lost. I should have used my intelligence to conduct the activities of the mind- thinking, feeling and willing-and because my mind is not controlled, my senses are not controlled, therefore I am fallen. This is the analysis of the whole bodily construction. Go on.]
Bhagavad Gita 2.62-72, Lectures by Srila Prabhupada, Los Angeles, Dec 19, 68
Comments