Self-realization means to see one's proper identity. At the present moment we are not finding out our proper identity. We are seeing to the body. I see you, your body, and you see me, my body. We have no vision of the real person, which is, who is occupying this body. This is the first lesson we get from Bhagavad-gita: dehino 'smin yatha dehe [Bg. 2.13]. Dehi... This body is called deha, and the owner of the body is called dehi. So
dehino 'smin yatha dehe
kaumaram yauvanam jara
tatha dehantara-praptih...
[Bg. 2.13]
So when we can see that we are not this body, "I am not this body," that is beginning of self-realization. That is called brahma-bhuta [SB 4.30.20] stage. Aham brahmasmi: "I am not this material body." Aham brahmasmi. This is self-realization.
By H.D.G. Srila Prabhupada
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