'The best companion I have found all time in my life is 'me'. People complain of loneliness, in reality they're never alone throughout their life. But you have to be alone to find you."
- Yadu
This quote tells us that we are our best companion all time in our life. It tells us that we are never alone through out our life. But, you should prefer to be alone & in a meditative state to find the real ‘you’. In our daily lives while performing our daily chores, we start believing that we are of this body, & by just earning money, getting a home, a car, getting married is our ultimate happiness in our life. It doesn’t mean that we won’t get any happiness from all these. But, the happiness derived from these is limited and can last for minutes, days & months. In reality, we are not of this body nor the body is of us. As per Bhagavad-Gita, our body is made of 5 elements - fire, water, air, earth & ether(pancha-bhootaha) & will disappear into these elements after our life. This clearly raises the question; ‘Who are we??’
As per the Vedic philosophy & Bhagavad-Gita, It’s the spirit(Atma) that resides in our body & it’s the real ‘you’. In Sanskrit, Atma means ‘swarupaha’ in the sense; original form of an individual.
This has been confirmed in Kathopanishath;
"Aatmanam rathinam viddhi shareeram ratham eva cha.
Budhhim tu sarathim viddhi manaha pragraham eva cha."
Translation: Aatma(paramatma & jeevatma) is the charioteer, shareeram(our body) is the chariot. Buddhhim(our intelligence & consciousness) is the fellow chaioteer, Manaha(our mind) is the rope to control the chariot.
"Indriyaani hayanahuhu vishayanteshu gocharaan.
Aatmendriya manooyuktam bhoktetyahur maneeshinaha."
Translation: Indriyaani(our senses) are the horses, topics are its food. Yogis interpret that: A soul with the grace of Supreme soul along with the mind, body, intelligence he enjoys/suffers in life.
Interestingly, our body consists of 6 bodies; starting from the external most to the internal one- Sthoola Shariraha(external physical body), Sookshma Shariraha(sensitive body), Linga Shariraha(which covers Atma), Aniruddha Shareeraha(Astral body or the energy layer aura) Jeevatma (soul- our real form) & Paramatma ( Supreme Soul).
Paramatma is responsible for the functioning of soul(Atma). In fact, our soul is responsible for the existence of our body which constitutes life. Soul(Atma) exists only because Paramatma. In Bhagavad-Gita, It’s told by Lord Krishna;
“Jeevatma is a reflection of me(Paramatma)”
"Aham Tam Eeshwaranaam Paramam Maheshwaram."
Translation: I(Krishna) am Lord of all so called Lords."
ईश्वर: सर्वभूतानां हृद्देशेऽर्जुन तिष्ठति |
भ्रामयन्सर्वभूतानि यन्त्रारूढानि मायया || 61||
īśhvaraḥ sarva-bhūtānāṁ hṛid-deśhe ‘rjuna tiṣhṭhati
bhrāmayan sarva-bhūtāni yantrārūḍhāni māyayā
Translation: The Supreme Lord dwells in the hearts of all living beings, O Arjun. According to their karmas, he directs the wanderings of the souls, who are seated on a machine made of the material energy.
Commentary: Emphasizing the dependence of the soul upon God, Shree Krishna says, “Arjun, whether you choose to obey me or not, your position will always remain under my dominion. The body in which you reside is a machine made from my material energy. Based upon your past karmas, I have given you the kind of body you deserved. I too am seated in it, and am noting all your thoughts, words, and deeds. So, I will also judge whatever you do in the present, to decide your future. Do not think you are independent of me in any condition. Hence Arjun, it is in your self-interest to surrender to me.”
This is supported by Jesus Christ in Bible- “ The Kingdom of God is within you.”
Linga Shariraha covers Jeevatma & will be detached from Jeevatma after Jeevatma attains ‘Nirvana’ or Salvation or ‘Moksha’ or ‘Mukti’ and Jeevatma becomes a Mukhtatma. Most importantly, a Jeevatma has to pass through Sushumna or Brahma Naadi to attain salvation.
With respect to the size of an Atma, Bhagavatha(an extensive collection of stories of Bhagwan Krishna) has given valuable information; the size of an Atma resembles 1 out of 10,000 parts of the edge of a hair. It’s so minute & sensitive that it can’t be visible through a powerful electron microscope.
In Vedic philosophy, it’s said that we can find & experience our soul within us through deep meditation called ‘The Third Eye meditation’ or 'Shat Chakra Yoga' which is similar to Vipasshyana( a Buddhist meditation). Apart from this there are certain meditations like 'Chakra Dhyan, Kriya, Rudra Kriya Yoga, Yoga Nidra, Kundalini Dhyan as well as breath work sessions etc to activate chakras and increase our energy, frequency & intensity.
In support of this notion, Sadhguru quotes-
pic credits: isha.sadhguru.org
‘The Third Eye’ meditation along with the deity meditation(Bhakti Yoga), other exercises(yoga) enables a soul to attain salvation as prescribed in Bhagavad-Gita as Bhakti Yoga & Astanga Yoga, it comprises of 8 fold rituals; Yama, Niyama, Dhyana, Dharana, Asana, Pratyahara, Pranayama, & Samadhi, to attain 'Nirvana' and it's propounded by many great saints including Sree Mahavatar Babaji, considered to be the greatest of all Himalayan Yogis. Third eye is also called ‘Ajna-Chakra’ or 'Pineal gland'. Below is the image of 7 'Chakras' in our body-
It’s said in Bhagavad-Gita; our physical bodies have multiple deaths and rebirths(incarnations). But, our soul is eternal and it’s always complete because of Paramatma. It can’t be destroyed by any means. Because the Lord himself dwells in there & protects us all time. He makes us breathe, carry out all the vital functions of our body, makes us think, decide and act in our daily lives. However, the Lord has given us certain level of liberty over our lives. It's mentioned in Bhagavad-Gita as 'Datta Swatantraha'(given independence) to do our duties and manage our responsibilities. If we properly utilize this independence, we can attain 'Nirvana' for sure. Interestingly, due to improper use of this independence we are afflicted to Karma.
Well, as per the stoic philosophy; life consists of controllable & uncontrollable factors. Controllable factors as per Bhagavad-Gita represents 'Datta Swatantraha.'
Following is a Vedic quote from Sri Madhwacharya ( the founder of Dwaita Cult) in support of this-
“Naham Kartha Harihi Kartha Tathpooja Karma Chakilam Thathaapi mat krita pooja Tathprasadadeva Nanyatha”
Translation- “It’s not me who who performs it’s the Hari(Supreme Soul-Krishna) who performs all the Karma, despite this, The Pooja(prayer & good deeds(Karma)) done by me is only because of him & he himself is responsible for all these great deeds.”
The process of gaining knowledge on our soul is called ‘Self-realization’ or ‘Atma Jnanaha’ as per Bhagavad-Gita. The process of attaining this is called ‘Atma Sakshatkaraha’.
When once we gain knowledge on our soul and achieve ‘Atma Sakshatkaraha’, we don’t need anybody or anything outside to make us happy or feel complete. Everything will be attracted towards us. It's the basic requirement to reach 'Paramatma' or Supreme Soul, that is Nirvana.
“Needing nothing(outside) attracts everything.”
-Russel Simmons
This state is referred to as ‘Samadhi’ in Sanskrit. It’s the stage before attaining salvation. As mentioned earlier, it can be achieved by deep meditation(Kriya Yoga) & Bhakti Yoga under the guidance of a ‘Guru’. At first, we have to prefer to be alone and in complete silence.
So, my friends if you suffer from loneliness and lack; lack of energy and enthusiasm, remember this knowledge & start meditation to achieve a state of well being and experience eternal happiness.
Thank you😇😇!!!