Atma jnana can be won only by the triple path of ‘giving up Vasanas’, ‘uprooting the mind’ and the ‘analysis of experience, to grasp the reality’. Without these three, the Jnana of the Atma will not dawn. So the Vasanas must be put down. This can be achieved by means of discrimination (Viveka), meditation of the Atma (Atma-chintana), inquiry (Vicharana), control of the senses (Samam), control of the desires (Damam), renunciation (Vairagya) and such disciplines. (JV, p. 9)
Atma jnana (knowledge of the true Self) dawns in man when he has Citta-Shuddhi (purity of the heart). This purity can he achieved only through Karmas. The body, the mind and the Atma, all three are involved in the human entity. They are inextricable, interdependent. When they become disparate, life loses its meaning. When the body is subject to the mind and the mind is controlled by the Atma, life finds fulfilment. When the body alone is predominant, the human descends to the level of the animal. When the mind prevails over the body and the sensory organs, the human level is attained. When the Atma prevails over the mind and the body, Divinity is realised.
Recognising this fact, the Gita has indicated a three-stage path to divinity. Engaging the body in good deeds, using the mind to develop good thoughts and human qualities and to contemplate on God through Upasana (worshipping the Divine) man reaches the stage when, like a river joining the ocean, he merges in the Brahman. This is the process by which the human becomes one with the Divine. (SSS Vol.17, p. 159)
Atma jnana is that which reveals the unity in multiplicity, the eternal in the perishable. One who has attained Atma jnana is all knowing. ‘Tarati sokam Atmavith’ (the knower of the Self overcomes sorrow), says the Upanishad. All worldly knowledge is concerned with sustaining life. When knowledge of the Spirit-which is the basis of all other knowledge of the sciences and the arts is acquired, it is easy to get any kind of knowledge. When communion with the Divine, who is the source of all knowledge, power and wisdom, is established, one has access to every kind of knowledge. Hence each one should strive to attain Self-realisation through purity of mind and heart.
Purity of mind promotes purity of heart. Purity of mind is achieved by association with noble personages and studying the writings of saintly persons. ‘Cittasya suddhaye karmah’, the purpose of doing karmas (the duly ordained duties) is to purify the consciousness. Purity of consciousness leads to realisation of the Self. Atma jnana can be got only by faith. Develop faith in yourself and faith in God. This is the secret of greatness. (SSS Vol.19, pp. 159-160)
It is not given to everyone to grasp the omnipresence of God, but all have the capacity to identify His presence. Jnananam Jnanam Agram, jnananam Jnanam uttamam —Of all kinds of knowledge, Atma jnana is the foremost and the best. We find various forms of knowledge in the world—music, literature, painting, sculpture, dance, materials and so on. Atma jnana is paramount. Worldly knowledge might endow you with scholarship, fame, honor and titles. But, Atmanaam Atman Uttamam—The title higher than all worldly titles is that you are the Atma. The Vedas say that man is Amritaputra— a child of immortality. This is the highest title.
All worldly knowledge changes with time and deludes your intellect. For this reason, our ancient sages dedicated their lives to the acquisition of Atma jnana, which is changeless and illumines the intellect. Some qualities are necessary for earning such wisdom.
- Sarve Loka Hite Ratah
Desire the welfare of all beings by engaging in actions that benefit others. We should cultivate readiness to serve. Your education should equip you better to render service. Then you will evoke true respect from others.
- Sarve Jnana Sampannah
Students should excel in all forms of knowledge. This is also called ‘awareness.’ You should understand and experience all the angles of a situation. Worldly subjects grant you competence within a narrow scope. You perceive situations with a limited outlook. If I ask you what this (handkerchief) is, you say, ‘a piece of cloth’. This answer shows your restricted, worldly knowledge. With broader vision, you identify it as a handkerchief. Spiritual knowledge is complete and enables one to grasp all fields of knowledge. This is ‘total awareness’.
- Sarve Samudita Gunaihi
The student must embody every virtue or guna. What is meant by guna? Traditionally, the three qualities of creation (sattva, rajas, and Tamas) are called gunas. Indeed, virtue is the union and balance of these three gunas. In practice, it is very important to disregard the faults of others and to express your own Divinity. This is true guna. This trait is crucial for students and it is the source of all virtues. That which inculcates such virtue alone can be called education. Modern educational systems impart information but not virtues. (SSB 1995, pp. 195-197)