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Gita Lesson - 0407: Understanding Atman

Bhagavad Gita
Unit - 04
Lesson - 0407: Understanding Atman
By Raja Subramaniyan

We do many actions in a day. If someone asks us, "What did you do yesterday?" we may mention a few actions. If we spend time to reflect, we will see that there are millions of actions done by us during any given day and we claim some of them as our doing. It is an illusion. The truth is we do not do anything. Life happens to us. Life is so intelligent as to make us believe that we do or do not do actions in life. We do not do anything. We are the Atman and the Atman is incapable of doing any action. Nor are the inert objects like body and mind capable of doing any action.

Teaching 10:You do not do anything nor do you cause anything to be done

Atman cannot even prompt anyone to do any action.

Example: The drama is directed by the director.

Atman is not the director of the drama that we call life. The drama of life happens in this universe and it is related to the world just as the mirage water is related to the dry sand. Although the water is seen on the sand, it does not wet the sand. Moreover, sand does not cause the mirage water. Similarly, Atman does not cause the action. The action that we see around (including our own action) is an illusion.

Example: A movie is projected on the screen.

Similarly, the universe is projected on the Atman.

There are many characters in the movie but there is only one screen, on which the images are projected. Similarly, there are many living/non-living inert objects in the universe but the Atman is one. Although one object appears to be different from another, in reality all appearances are part of the illusion. Atman is not limited by form and name.

The screen is present all the time, before, during and after the projection of the movie. Similarly, Atman is not limited by time but the universe is manifested, sustained and resolved in time.

The screen pervades the entire movie and the movie cannot be outside the screen. Similarly, Atman is not limited by space but everything in the creation is in space.

The presence of the movie is dependent on the existence of the screen. The screen does not depend on the movie for its existence. Similarly, Atman is independent. The universe is dependent on the Atman for its existence.

The movie appears to be moving but the screen does not move. Similarly, the Atman is changeless.

The blood in the movie cannot taint the screen.

Our attention is on the movie characters and we do not pay any attention to the screen. Similarly, we do not take notice of the ever-present Atman.

When the movie is going on, it is not possible to see the changeless, ever-present screen. One has to understand intellectually that there is a screen supporting he movie. We always experience the screen indirectly by experiencing the movie. Similarly, we continuously experience the Atman (the feeling of 'I') by experiencing the world.

Teaching 11: You are neither the doer nor the enjoyer

If neither the Atman nor the inert object (our body/mind complex) is involved in any action, then who does the actions. Actions are part of the illusion. For example, in a drama, the hero kills the villain. We do not go to a police station and give a complaint about the murder since it is a part of the illusion.

Similarly, the action, which is a part of the illusion, is done by an illusory character called our ego. Our ego is the doer of the action and enjoyer of the results of the action.

Ego refers to the reflection of the sentiency of the Atman in the reflecting medium of our individual mind. Ego does not refer to arrogance in this context. The word Ego (meaning 'I') has been wrongly construed by people not yet exposed to the teachings of Vedanta/Gita. In reality, ego does not exist. If we keep enquiring 'who am I' systematically under the guidance of a teacher, the "I", who claims to be the doer and the enjoyer will vanish.

Wise people know that the Atman is neither the doer nor the enjoyer. The imaginary ego is the doer and the enjoyer.

We suffer because we consider ourselves to be the doer / enjoyer. It is difficult to shift our focus and realize that we are the changeless ever-present Atman, who is neither the doer nor the enjoyer. In order to get this attitude, we have to prepare our mind by doing our Karma as Karma Yoga, which will be explained in the next unit.

Thus, the description of who we are shows very clearly that we are immortal. This is the central message of the Vedanta. To comprehend this message, we need to do our duty sincerely, so that we can understand the truth after getting the required mental maturity.

Chapter 2: Wisdom is the solution [Verses: 19 - 25]

2.19 He who thinks that the Atman is the slayer or the slain, does not understand. One who is wise knows that the Atman neither acts nor causes any action.

2.20 For the Atman, there is no birth or death. It neither comes into existence nor ceases to exist. It is unborn, eternal, ever-existing, decay less and growth less. It is not affected when the body is slain.

2.21 Oh Arjuna, how can a person who knows that the Atman is indestructible, beginning less, changeless, eternal and immutable, kill anyone or cause anyone to kill?

2.22 Just as a person puts on new garments, giving up the worn out old ones, the Atman accepts new physical bodies, giving up the old and useless ones.

2.23 The Atman can never be cut into pieces by any weapon, nor can he be burned by fire, nor moistened by water, nor withered by the wind.

2.24 This Atman is unbreakable and imperishable, and can be neither burned nor dried. He is everlasting, all-pervading, unchangeable, immovable and eternally the same.

2.25 This Atman is invisible, inconceivable, immutable, and unchangeable. Knowing this, you should not grieve.

Gita Lesson - 0406: Beyond Sensory Perception << Home >> Gita Lesson - 0408: Role of Intelligence

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