SELF/ਆਤਮ
ABSTRACT
We are all part of One Universal Absolute Spirit or Principle. When one experiences the true meaning of spirituality, which is to know God, he will realize that It is his own Self, and that It exists equally and impartially in all beings. Individual self has two parts; one Higher Self, which is a part of the Universal Self and the other lower self (ਹਉਮੈ), we are born with. The lower self acts as a veil to hide the higher self. Throughout all ages, the most profound impulse of the human spirit has been the longing for perfect love, understanding, joy, and completeness – for Truth or Higher Self residing in each but detached. Guru Arjan in Raag Majh and Kabir in Raag Bilawal ponder on it;
ਘਟ ਘਟ ਅੰਤਰਿ ਵਰਤੈ ਨੇਰਾ ॥ ਸਦਾ ਅਲਿਪਤੁ ਜੀਆ ਕਾ ਦਾਤਾ ਕੋ ਵਿਰਲਾ ਆਪੁ ਪਛਾਣੈ ਜੀਉ ॥
Ghat Ghat Antar Vartai Nayraa.Sadaa Alipat Jee-aa Kaa Daataa Ko Virlaa Aap PachhaaNai Jeeo.
Akal Purkh, inaccessible, unknowable, giver of conscience dwells so close in each mind though detached. Rare is that person who realizes their self.
-----Guru Arjan, Raag Majh, AGGS, Page, 106-16
ਸੋ ਬਉਰਾ ਜੋ ਆਪੁ ਨ ਪਛਾਨੈ ॥ ਆਪੁ ਪਛਾਨੈ ਤ ਏਕੈ ਜਾਨੈ ॥
So ba▫urā jo āp na pacẖẖānai. Āp pacẖẖānai ṯa ekai jānai.
He alone is insane, who does not understand his-self. When he understands his-self, then he knows the One Akal Purkh. -----Kabir, Raag Bilawal, AGGS, Page, 855-15
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Self is defined as one's identity, character, abilities, attitudes, especially in relation to persons or things outside oneself or itself or one's consciousness of one's own being or identity; the ego. It is further defined through a process of conscientiously evaluating and choosing from among your options on the basis of your personally selected merits and values. Self proclaims that I AM that inner self of you that you cannot see or the one that you do not want to acknowledge because of your boundaries, the barriers placed to the concept of your infinity and innocence. It represents the pre-conceived ideas of who you think you are.
Every One thinks of changing the world, but no one thinks of changing his/her self.-----Leo Tolstoy
It is an illusion you think you are, based on your pre-conditioning. Guru Nanak in Raag Tilang describes a simple technique to identify or recognize the higher self. One just has to get rid of the lower self that hides his Higher Self. It does not require any cleverness:
ਆਪੁ ਗਵਾਈਐ ਤਾ ਸਹੁ ਪਾਈਐ ਅਉਰੁ ਕੈਸੀ ਚਤੁਰਾਈ ॥ ਸਹੁ ਨਦਰਿ ਕਰਿ ਦੇਖੈ ਸੋ ਦਿਨੁ ਲੇਖੈ ਕਾਮਣਿ ਨਉ ਨਿਧਿ ਪਾਈ ॥
Āp gavā¬ī¬ai ṯā saho pā¬ī¬ai a¬or kaisī cẖaṯurā¬ī. Saho naḏar kar ḏekẖai so ḏin lekẖai kāmaṇ na▫o niḏẖ pā▫ī.
Give up your selfhood or self conceit, and so obtain your Husband Akal Purkh (Higher Self); and it does not need any clever tricks. When the Husband Akal Purkh looks upon the soul-bride with Its Gracious Glance, that day is historic - the bride obtains the nine treasures. -----Guru Nanak, Raag Tilang, AGGS, Page, 722-13
Many of us seek the answers to life's questions by looking outside of ourselves and trying to glean advice from the people around us. But as each of us is unique, with our own personal histories, our own sense of right and wrong, and our own way of experiencing the world that defines our realities, looking to others for our answers is only partially helpful. The answers to our personal questions can be most often found by looking within. When you realize that you always have access to the part of you that always knows what you need and are meant to act as your inner compass, you can stop searching outside of yourself. If you can learn to hear, trust, and embrace the wisdom that lives within you, you will be able to confidently navigate your life. On controlling the mind by Akal Purkh’s Grace and looking inside, one can find the answers to the life's questions. Thus one is consulting his best guide by following the instructions laid down in Sabd Guru. The following hymn of Guru Amardas is self explanatory;
ਅੰਤਰਿ ਜੋਤਿ ਪਰਗਟੁ ਪਾਸਾਰਾ ॥ਗੁਰ ਸਾਖੀ ਮਿਟਿਆ ਅੰਧਿਆਰਾ ॥
Antar Jot Pargat Paasaaraa, Gur Saakhee Miti-aa AnDhi-aaraa.
Deep within the self is the Light of God; It radiates throughout the expanse of Its creation. Through the Guru's Teachings, the darkness of spiritual ignorance is dispelled.
-----Guru Amardas, Raag Majh, AGGS, Page, 126-10
In general the self refers to the conscious, reflective personality of an individual. The self of an individual is exhibited in the conduct and discourse of that individual. The self is the idea of a unified being which is the source of an idiosyncratic consciousness. Moreover, this self is the agent responsible for the thoughts and actions of an individual to which they are ascribed. It is a substance, which therefore endures through time; thus, the thoughts and actions at different moments of time may pertain to the same self.
Trusting your inner wisdom under the guidance of “Sabd Guru” it may feel awkward at first, but as the spiritual awakening is on the right path by the removal of inner pollution, one recognizes his self as one is blessed by Its Grace; Guru Nanak refers to it in Siri Raag;
ਕਿਉ ਗੁਰ ਬਿਨੁ ਤ੍ਰਿਕੁਟੀ ਛੁਟਸੀ ਸਹਜਿ ਮਿਲਿਐ ਸੁਖੁ ਹੋਇ ॥ਨਿਜ ਘਰਿ ਮਹਲੁ ਪਛਾਣੀਐ ਨਦਰਿ ਕਰੇ ਮਲੁ ਧੋਇ ॥
Ki-o Gur Bin Tarikutee Chhutsee Sahj Mili-ai Sukh Ho-ay, Nij Ghar Mahal Pachhaanee-ai Nadar Karay Mal Dhoay.
Within the home of the self, the Mansion of Akal Purkh’s Presence is realized when It bestows Its Glance of Grace and washes away our pollution.
----Guru Nanak, Siri Raag, AGGS, Page, 18-16
Remember to be patient as you relearn how to hear, receive, and follow the guidance of Sabd Guru with reflection in daily life. If you are unsure about whether following your inner wisdom will prove reliable, you may want to think of a time when you did trust the spiritual wisdom and when everything worked out as trusted. Recall how the answers came to you, how they felt in your body as you considered them, and what happened when you acted upon this guidance. Now, recall a time when you didn't trust the self and the results didn't work out as you had hoped. Trusting guidance of graced self can help you avoid going against what you instinctively know is right for you as explained by Guru Amardas in Raag Vadhans;
ਸਬਦੁ ਚੀਨਿ ਮਨੁ ਨਿਰਮਲੁ ਹੋਵੈ ਤਾ ਹਰਿ ਕੇ ਗੁਣ ਗਾਵੈ ॥ ਗੁਰਮਤੀ ਆਪੈ ਆਪੁ ਪਛਾਣੈ ਤਾ ਨਿਜ ਘਰਿ ਵਾਸਾ ਪਾਵੈ ॥
Sabd Cheen Man Nirmal Hovai Taa Har Kay Gun Gaavai, Gurmatee Aapai Aap Pachhaanai Taa Nij Ghar Vaasaa Paavai.
Remembering the Word of the Sabd, the mind becomes immaculately pure, and then, one sings the Glorious Praises of the Akal Purkh. Under Guru's Instruction, one comes to understand his own self, and then, he comes to dwell in the home of his inner self.
-----Guru Amardas, Raag Vadhans, AGGS, Page, 565-10
Throughout all ages, the most profound impulse of the human spirit has been the longing for perfect love, understanding, joy, and completeness -- for the Truth Itself. There is no straight pathway in this life. There are no mysteries or miracles but illusions, which are caused by attachment to Maya designed by the Akal Purkh. These illusions make the individual Ego to separate the self from the Truth, and thus create duality and doubt in self, says Guru Amardas in Siri Raag;
ਮਾਇਆ ਮੋਹੁ ਮੇਰੈ ਪ੍ਰਭਿ ਕੀਨਾ ਆਪੇ ਭਰਮਿ ਭੁਲਾਏ ॥ ਗੁਰਬਾਣੀ ਇਸੁ ਜਗ ਮਹਿ ਚਾਨਣੁ ਕਰਮਿ ਵਸੈ ਮਨਿ ਆਏ ॥
Maya Mohu Mayrai Prabh Keena Aapay Bharam Bhulaa-ay, Gurbaanee Is Jag Meh Chaanan Karam Vasai Man Aa-ay.
Emotional attachment to Maya is created by God; Who misleads us through illusion and doubt. -----Guru Amardas, Siri Raag, AGGS, Page, 67-9
Self proclaims that I AM that inner self of you that you cannot see or don't want to acknowledge because of the pre-conceived ego of who you think you are.
ਹਉਮੈ ਮਾਇਆ ਵਿਚੇ ਪਾਈ ॥ ਮਨਮੁਖ ਭੂਲੇ ਪਤਿ ਗਵਾਈ ॥
Haumai Maya Vichay Paa-ee, Manmukh Bhoolay Pat Gavaa-ee.
Egotism was instilled into the illusion of Maya. The self-willed is deluded, and loses his honor. -----Guru Amar Das, Maru Sohlay, AGGS, Page, 1044-2
The illusion you think you are that has been built up by your pre-conditioning, by the ego that were born with. Until and unless the ego of the self is won by the grace of Akal Purkh, no success in life is achieved.
ਜਬ ਲਗੁ ਮੇਰੀ ਮੇਰੀ ਕਰੈ ॥ਤਬ ਲਗੁ ਕਾਜੁ ਏਕੁ ਨਹੀ ਸਰੈ ॥ਜਬ ਮੇਰੀ ਮੇਰੀ ਮਿਟਿ ਜਾਇ ॥ਤਬ ਪ੍ਰਭ ਕਾਜੁ ਸਵਾਰਹਿ ਆਇ ॥
Jab Lag Mayree Mayree Karai, Tab Lag Kaaj Ayk Nahee Sarai, Jab Mayree Mayree Mitt Jaa-ey, Tab Prabh Kaaj Svaareh Aaa-ey.
As long as the individual cries out, "Mine! Mine!” none of his tasks is accomplished. When such possessiveness is erased and removed, then God comes and resolves his affairs. -----Kabir, Raag Bhario, AGGS, Page, 1160 &61
The endless search for fulfillment, for happiness, for material possessions, for partners, that you have embarked on is caused by the illusion, the attachment to Maya. To conquer the self one has to get rid of three qualities of Maya.
ਕਾਚੀ ਮਟੁਕੀ ਬਿਨਸਿ ਬਿਨਾਸਾ ॥ ਜਿਸੁ ਛੂਟੈ ਤ੍ਰਿਕੁਟੀ ਤਿਸੁ ਨਿਜ ਘਰਿ ਵਾਸਾ ॥
Kācẖī matukī binas bināsā. Jis Chhootai Tarikutee Tis Nij Ghar Vaasaa.
The clay pot of the body shall be broken. One who has eliminated the three qualities dwells in the home of his inner self. -----Guru Arjan, Raag Asa, AGGS, Page, 374-11
You had the feeling of the 3 qualities of Maya creating doubt and duality and now that feeling has all of you. It is the judgment, which arose from your need to make a choice, ego, whereas, in reality, there is not a choice to be made in the infinity of innocence, and the Inner Self has no free will. Free will is an invention you made in order to justify your need to choose. It is the ego that has to be conquered through the teachings of the Guru to get all the answers with in the self.
ਖੁਦੀ ਮਿਟੀ ਤਬ ਸੁਖ ਭਏ ਮਨ ਤਨ ਭਏ ਅਰੋਗ ॥ ਨਾਨਕ ਦ੍ਰਿਸਟੀ ਆਇਆ ਉਸਤਤਿ ਕਰਨੈ ਜੋਗੁ ॥
Khudee Mitee Tab Sukh Bha-ay Man Tan Bha-ay Arog, Nanak Daristee Aa-i-aa Ustat Karnai Jog.
When selfishness and conceit are erased, peace comes, and the mind and body are healed. O Nanak, then Akal Purkh comes to be seen -- the One who is worthy of praise.
-----Guru Arjan, Raag Gauri, AGGS, Page, 260-9
When you look at your Self and enter into communication and union with Self, many emotions and feelings are aroused by those aspects of you that confront you. These may be the judgment about your love or hate, acceptance or denial, trust or fear. The infinity of innocence does not know judgment, does not know fear but you came here to learn the lesson of the paradoxes, the lesson of separation from Source, God, Great Spirit, whatever you will call your Inner Self.
You keep repeating your patterns because you, in your mind, judged yourself that you have not learned the lesson well enough, that you did not achieve wholeness within your Self. You created that separation and with the separation, all of the choices that you are faced with. All the decisions that you ‘have to make’ result in an un-understanding confusion till the individual self dies in to the Universal Self, as explained by Guru Nanak in Raag Gauri;
ਆਪਿ ਮੂਆ ਮਨੁ ਮਨ ਤੇ ਜਾਨਿਆ ॥ਨਜਰਿ ਭਈ ਘਰੁ ਘਰ ਤੇ ਜਾਨਿਆ ॥
Aap Moo-aa Man Man Tay Jaani-aa, Najar Bha-ee Ghar Ghar Tay Jaani-aa.
When the self dies, the individual mind comes to know the Supreme Mind. As the inner vision is awakened, one comes to know one's own home, deep within the self.
-----Guru Nanak, Raag Gauri, AGGS, Page, 153-11
You forgot that your Inner Self is Love, bringing Light into Life. You forgot that you are a Spiritual being having a Human experience waiting to be blessed by the grace to find the source with in by becoming a better human following the teachings incorporated in AGGS.
ਪਾਇਆ ਰਤਨੁ ਘਰਾਹੁ ਦੀਵਾ ਬਾਲਿਆ ॥ ਸਚੈ ਸਬਦਿ ਸਲਾਹਿ ਸੁਖੀਏ ਸਚ ਵਾਲਿਆ ॥
Paa-i-aa Ratan Gharaahu Deevaa Baali-aa, Sachai Sabd Salaahi Sukhee-ay Sach Vaali-aa.
I have found the jewel within the home of my own self; the lamp within has been lit. Those who praise the True Word of the Sabd, abide in the peace of Truth.
-----Guru Nanak, Vaar Majh, AGGS, Page, 149-7
Our awareness of Being is consciousness. The body has no awareness of its own if it were not pervaded by consciousness; it would be just a lump of flesh. The mind has no awareness of its own and does not even have intelligence. The mind can only think and doubt. It has beliefs, opinions, likes, dislikes but is not aware of any thing. Awareness and true intelligence exist with in the SELF. The inner consciousness is aware of what mind thinks. The ego appropriates the thought to itself. The individual experiences the effects or consequences of what the mind thinks. The thought determines the experience as guided by the Universal Self.
ਮਨ ਬਚ ਕ੍ਰਮ ਜਿਹ ਆਪਿ ਜਨਾਈ ॥ਨਾਨਕ ਤਿਹ ਮਤਿ ਪ੍ਰਗਟੀ ਆਈ ॥
Man Bach Karam Jih Aap Janaa-ee, Nanak Tih Mat Pargatee Aa-ee.
Those whom the Akal Purkh Itself instructs in thought, word and deed, O Nanak, their intellect are enlightened. -----Guru Arjan, Raag Gauri, AGGS, Page, 259-8
The ego thinks circumstances or other people cause unhappiness. Unhappiness is due to the ignorance of our true nature, which is SELF. The SELF or Metaphysical Energy cannot be affected by death or by passage of time or by any other phenomenon. The reason we cannot see or perceive its radiance is because the veil of impurities, our thinking and ego covers it. Guru Nanak advises in Raag Suhi to be free of impurities;
ਅੰਜਨ ਮਾਹਿ ਨਿਰੰਜਨਿ ਰਹੀਐ ਜੋਗ ਜੁਗਤਿ ਇਵ ਪਾਈਐ॥ਸਤਿਗੁਰੁ ਭੇਟੈ ਤਾ ਸਹਸਾ ਤੂਟੈ ਧਾਵਤੁ ਵਰਜਿ ਰਹਾਈਐ ॥
Anjan Maahi Niranjan Rahee-ai Jog Jugat Iv Paa-ee-ai. Saṯgur bẖetai ṯā sahsā ṯūtai ḏẖāvaṯ varaj rahā▫ī▫ai.
Remaining unblemished in the midst of the filth of the world -- this is the way to attain Yoga. Meeting with the True Guru, doubt is dispelled, and the wandering mind is restrained. -----Guru Nanak, Raag Suhi, AGGS, Page, 730-14
When the five senses are stilled and thinking has ceased, when the intellect does not stir, in between two thoughts then one can enjoy the tranquility of mind and reach the highest state of spirituality. Then the egos are erased due to the blessings of the Akal Purkh’s Grace as elucidated by Guru Arjan in Raag Majh;
ਸਾਧਿਕ ਸਿਧ ਧਿਆਵਹਿ ਗਿਆਨੀ ॥ ਖੁਦੀ ਮਿਟੀ ਚੂਕਾ ਭੋਲਾਵਾ ਗੁਰਿ ਮਨ ਹੀ ਮਹਿ ਪ੍ਰਗਟਾਇਆ ਜੀਉ ॥
Sāḏẖik siḏẖ ḏẖi▫āvahi gi▫ānī. Khudee Mitee Chookaa Bholaavaa Gur Man Hee Meh Paragtaa-i-aa jee-o.
The seekers, the Siddhas, those beings of miraculous spiritual powers, and the spiritual teachers, all meditate on God. Thus, their egos are erased, and their doubts are dispelled. The Guru has enlightened their minds. -----Guru Arjan, Raag Majh, AGGS, Page, 104-2
The Self, the Universal Spirit, exists fully in all creatures. It is in sunset, in music, in beauty, in ugliness, and in the eyes of the beholder. It is the contentment felt in self while gazing in to the eyes of the beloved. It is that fervor, that ecstasy that rapture when time stands still. The Self is the knower, the observer, and the witness. It sees every thing and is not seen by the seer. However, it can be recognized through the service to the Akal Purkh as Guru Ramdas explains in Siri Raag and Bhai Gurdas in Vaar 19;
ਸਤਿਗੁਰੁ ਸੇਵਿ ਸੁਖੁ ਪਾਇਆ ਸਚੁ ਨਾਮੁ ਗੁਣਤਾਸੁ ॥ਗੁਰਮਤੀ ਆਪੁ ਪਛਾਣਿਆ ਰਾਮ ਨਾਮ ਪਰਗਾਸੁ ॥
Satgur Sayv Sukh Paa-i-aa Sach Naam Guntaas, Gurmatee Aap Pachhaani-aa Raam Naam Pargaas.
Serving the True Guru, peace is obtained. The True Name is the Treasure of Excellence. Follow the Guru's Teachings, and recognize your own self; the Divine Light of the Akal Purkh's Name shall shine within. -----Guru Amar Das, Siri Raag, AGGS, Page, 86-1
ਸਬਦ ਸੁਰਤ ਲਿਵ ਲਾਇ ਅਨਹਦ ਵਾਇਆ॥ ਨਿਜ ਘਰਿ ਨਿਹਚਲ ਜਾਇ ਦਹ ਦਿਸ ਧਾਇਆ॥
Sabd Surat Liv Laaey Anhad Vaai-aa, Nij Ghar Nehchal Jaaey Deh Dis Dhaae-aa.
Merging the consciousness in the Word, one becomes One with the unstruck melody and gets stabilized in the inner self thus preventing the mind from wandering in ten directions.
-----Bhai Gurdas, Vaar 19, Pauri 21- 5 & 6
Conclusion;
The answers that you seek can be found when you start answering your own questions by the enlightened self through the guidance of Sabd Guru. Sabd Guru educates us into something far finer into a selflessness which links us with all humanity. It is the quest to find ourselves that drives us along the eternal and never-ending journey that we must all make.
The Self is the knower, the observer, and the witness. Braver is the one who overcomes his desires than he who conquers his enemies. It is because the hardest victory is the one over self.
ਗੁਰਮਤੀ ਆਪੁ ਪਛਾਣਿਆ ਰਾਮ ਨਾਮ ਪਰਗਾਸੁ ॥ ਸਚੋ ਸਚੁ ਕਮਾਵਣਾ ਵਡਿਆਈ ਵਡੇ ਪਾਸਿ ॥
Gurmatee Aap Pachhaani-aa Raam Naam Pargaas, Sacho Sach Kamaavanaa Vadi-aa-ee Vaday Paas.
Follow the Guru's Teachings, and recognize your own self; the Divine Light of the Akal Purkh's Name shall shine within. The true ones practice Truth; greatness rests in the Great Akal Purkh. -----Guru Amar Das, Siri Raag, AGGS, Page, 86-1
Virinder S. Grewal
Williamston, MI
