Self-realization Definition
Sri Krishna encourages Arjuna to be a man in the true sense of the word and says, “Have faith in yourself, stand up and fight the battle of life with a firmness of mind, clarity, and inner strength.”
We, as humans, are constantly fighting on different levels over the validity of the life force running inside us. We realize our potential and personality traits through self-work. With inner work, one can use and overcome its traits to learn and grow through the koshas (layers around your soul) to reach their higher self as mentioned in the Taittiriya Upanishad.
This article will cover, what is true in this world (Maya): finding or creating yourself.
What is True?
Our mind-body system is a complicated creation. The trick is to accept and work with the fact that neither your body nor your mind will serve you forever.
The impermanence theory is predominant in Hinduism, Buddhism, and Western philosophy. It makes one realize that your body and everything around you are changing and decomposing continuously.
What does self-realization mean?
A beautiful quote on self-realization by ― Paramahansa Yogananda
“Self-realization is the knowing in all parts of body, mind, and soul that you are now in possession of the kingdom of God; that you do not have to pray that it come to you; that God’s omnipresence is your omnipresence; and that all that you need to do is improve your knowing.”
Truth is knowing yourself; when you know your true self, you have unfolded everything around you.
When your truth is encountered, your personality changes, your behavior changes, and you fill with love and feel that nature and everything around you are one.
The truth is knowing that your higher self and your soul reside in you.
Your consistent inner work will help you cross through different koshas, eventually leading you to your (soul) Atma, which is the anandmaya kosha. Which, however, comes after using your inner freedom sensibly.
Who sees the truth?
The book Katha Upanishad: With the Commentary of Shankaracharya, 1980, says, ” the subtle qualities of the mind, heart, and intellect, when they are all pure and when they are all disengaged and calm, one can experience the Self, which cannot be known by the senses.”
According to the Triguna theory of Vedantic perspective, If the element of self-realization is not used to intentionally override the behavior, guna is thought to be more strong and more long-lasting in a person.
All living beings fall under the category of three Guna i.e. (Sattvic, Rajas, and Tamas).
We experience almost every emotion -ego, hurt, guilt, and happiness till the age of 30. In Osho’s talk, “Yoga,” the path to liberation, by the age of 28, one should have attained the manomaya (mental) kosha. If there is any imbalance of gunas in any faculties of your body and mind, you will keep dwelling in the first three of 5 layers of koshas.
According to a review of the applied aspect of gunas an ayurveda concept by Dr. Dinesh Kumar Malviya, 2020, In our body, (Tridosha) Vata, Pitta, and Kapha can be seen by our actions (Karma) and characteristics (Gunas).
Our actions and guna (traits) will make us shift from our true selves. In this way, people block their hearts and body and are lost somewhere in this world of illusion.
Your self-created belief system will never let you see the other side of your existence.
Self-realization examples
In a simple, insightful short story, a disciple went to a spiritual teacher one day to find out what his life purpose was and why he had been born. He had gone through many ups and downs in his life. The teacher saw him and said, “Why did you come with people to learn about yourself? The disciple looks back and replies that there is no one behind him. Then, the teacher said, close your eyes and then tell. The disciple realizes that his mind is crowded and entangled with thoughts.
The imbalance in mind and heart or body creates a world of doubt, discouragement, and negativity.
When you are alone, analyze yourself to determine your most dominant guna. What activities piqued your interest?
If you are Rajasik, you will watch movies and social media. If you are tamsik you will prefer to sleep. If you are sattvic you would like to read books.
Benefits of Spiritual balance – A path towards Finding yourself
The Mysore Triguna Scale, created by Shilpa et al. (2012), is the most recent tool created so far. The authors of this work made an effort to develop scales based on Triguna and Tridosha, two Ayurvedic concepts for classifying people based on their Prakriti.
A healthy lifestyle and spiritual practices may break habits that involve ego, guilt, or hurting yourself and others.
The following are the major changes that occur when you begin to discover your true self:
1. Your thoughts will change.
2. Eating habits and lifestyle change.
3. Acceptance will be your part.
4. Actions will be honest and right.
5. A life with a goal.
All tasks and work one does spiritually would be free from ego.
According to Wikipedia, the Atma Upanishad states that discovering oneself, that is, the external self (self-body) and the inner self (Antar-Atma), leads to the higher self. It is the connection and balance of mind, body, heart, and soul that come through meditation on the higher self (param Atma) after yoga that uncovers one’s indivisible and flawless self.
When we meet our truth, we can find purpose in creating something for ourselves and for the benefit of others.
The journey of unfolding oneself starts with peace and acceptance. You start detaching from everything and feel light and free. You will have a purpose and a life to cherish and be thankful for every second of it. The inner work will begin to connect your truth. This will sharpen your mind’s focus to the point where you can create anything.
References:
Atma Upanishad, Wikipedia, Michael Nagler (2007), in The Upanishads (editor: Eknath Easwaran), Blue Mountain, ISBN 978-1586380212.
Pancha Kosha Theory of Personality. Biswajit Satpathy, Article in The International Journal of Indian Psychology · July 2018.
A REVIEW ON APPLIED ASPECT OF GUNAS AN AYURVEDA CONCEPT, World Journal of Pharmaceutical and Medical Research, Dinesh et al.,2020,6(8), 194-196, ISSN 2455-3301.