Ashwin: Swamiji, my pranams to you. I want the deep meaning of the following statements:
1.Tat Tvam Asi
2. Pragnanam Brahma
3 .Ayam Atma Brahma
4. Aham Brahmasmi
Also I want to know the meanings of the following shlokas of Gita:
1.9:25. 2.5:29, 3.9:11 and 12:1-5.
Since I don’t know hindi, I cannot buy the books of Shrimad Bhagavad Gita-Ek Vaidik Rahasye written by you and so I am asking the meanings in English. Kindly help me please.
Swami Ram Swarup: My blessings to you.
1.) Tatvam Asi -is given in chchandogya upnishad. Its meaning is You are that but deep meaning is- as Formless God is omnipresent and therefore is in every matter of universe, so are you (soul) i.e., God is also within you.
2.) Pragyanaam Brahma (Aiteryopnishad)- God is most learned. The deep meaning is that the knowledge of all Vedas exists in formless, Almighty God and in the beginning of every creation, knowledge of Vedas emanates directly from God and is originated in four Rishis of non-sexual creation. So, Almighty God is the most learned amongst all learneds of Vedas etc. No one is even equivalent to God who gives intellect etc., to us.
3.) Ayam atma Brahma- The literal meaning of Ayam atma Brahma is that the atma (soul) is Brahma but it is against the Vedas. Actually, whatever we are seeing in the universe i.e., in every
matter of the world, Almighty God exists.
4.) Aham Brahma Asmi – (Brihadarranyakopnishad)- The literal meaning of Aham Brahma asmi is I am Brahma. Deep meaning will be obtained by quoting this example. Suppose, there are two friends and in utmost stage of love, one friend states that there is no difference between me and my friend. My friend is not separate from me. Whatever he is, so am I. In the said example, it is clear that two friends are quite separate from each other but in the stage of utmost closeness they start saying that they are not separate but are one. So, is in the case of Aham Brahma Asmi i.e., I am God. What happens that at the stage of Samadhi, when a yogi realises God, he feels that he is not separate from God because in Samadhi, he forgets the whole world and himself also. In that stage of utmost love between soul and God, a Yogi naturally starts saying- Aham Brahma asmi. However, fact is that Brahma and soul of Yogi are separate matters. The meaning of Geeta shloka quoted
by you will follow.
Aryan: Namaste swami ji, apne satyarth prakash sabse pahle kab padha tha? Thanks.
Swami Ram Swarup: Namasteji. I do not remember the date and time but at least about thirty years ago, I read it.
