K D Gupta: Swamiji Pranam. Please tell if aham brahmasmi is taken and from which Veda?
Swami Ram Swarup: My blessings to you. Aham Brahmasmi, tatvam Asi, sarvam Idam Khalu Brahma, Anandam Brahma have not been taken from Vedas but are mentioned in Upnishads. Based on the unlimited divine qualities, the divine names of God are also unlimited. Such as- Yajurved states- Ekam Sadrupah Vipraaha Bahudaa Vadanti”. Suryashch, Chandramashch, Vayushch i.e., God is one but His names are unlimited and their names are only uttered by ‘Vipraha’ i.e., He who knows Vedas, Ashtang Yog Philosophy and has realized God. So, here it is clear that when a person does not know ABC about Vedas, how he knows the real definition of God, divine name, qualities and eternal worship of God etc. A little bit divine qualities of God are as under-
1.) He creates, nurses and destroys and again creates the universe.
2.) When after finishing of time of final destruction, God creates universe, He then enters into the universe, His nature being omnipresent. (Chchandogyopnishad shloka 6/8,9,10 refer.)
3.) Aham Brahma Asmi (Brihadaaranyak Upnishad shloka 1/4/10 refer). So, when the Upnishad will be listened by a learned of Vedas, he will make the listener correctly understand that the meaning of Aham Brahma Asmi is not that the Soul is Brahma. Actually, during the period of Samadhi, the Yogi forgets Himself. Then duly indulged in divine pleasure he for sometimes feels himself as if he is God. Then in the same situation of indulging in divine pleasure, He starts saying- Aham Brahma Asmi but it does not mean that Soul is Brahma. This secret is only known by a Yogi and not others and his verbal statement is hardly recognized by a few and even I say is not required to be recognized but I should first study Vedas and then Upnishads.
It is not a reality that people start studying Upnishad and from those who start saying that vedas are nothing, this is not a sin.
Tatvam Asi (Chchandogya upnishad shloka 6/8, 9, 10 refer.)
When an aspirant would study the said Upnishad from a learned Acharya of Vedas and not others, then he will be able to know the real eternal meaning of Tatvam Asi i.e., Tu weh hai.
Tatvam Asi
The correct word is “Tatvam asi”. It has been mentioned in Chhandagya Upnished 6/8,9,10 the study of Vedas and Upanishads reveals that whole non-alive universe/world is like a body of God and God is omnipresent within every matter of the universe. It is stated in Yajurveda mantra 40/1 that there are two types of world. First, non-alive world made from prakriti in which sun, moon, air, water, bodies, jungle etc, etc, come. Second world is of souls, which is alive. So God is present in non-alive as well as alive world. Therefore the meaning of the “Tatvam Asi” has been stated by the Rishi that whole non-alive world is the body of God and God resides in it. Similarly, second alive world is of souls and God also resides in the souls. So quoting several examples, Rishi told his son “Shwetketu” that just as God resides within the non-alive world so are you. i.e., “Tatvam Asi” i.e., “YOU ARE LIKE THAT” i.e.,GOD ALSO RESIDES WITHIN YOU i.e., WITHIN SOUL and YOU ARE SOUL AND NOT BODY”.
Yagyavalkya Muni in his Shatpath Brahmin Granth also states – “Asya Atma Shareeram “. We must learn about God and soul. That both are separate, by considering also- “Asya Atma Shareeram”, meaning of which is “O MAN! PRESUME THAT SOUL IS LIKE A BODY OF GOD WHEREIN GOD RESIDES”. So meaning of “Tatvam Asi” which is often told that ” Soul is God” is against the Vedas and Upanishad
