The I Principle

The physical body that performs japam (Name recitation) or dhyanam (meditation) or the various other spiritual practices is but a water-bubble. The mind that is based upon this physical body is but a mad monkey. With the help of this mad-monkey mind and this water-bubble body, how can you hope to achieve the permanent atma? Japa, dhyana, bhajans (devotional singing), austerities, sacrifices—these are all methods for temporarily controlling the mind. But there is one practice that will have a permanent effect, and that is self-enquiry. You should go on enquiring “Who am I? Who am I?” until you reach the stage where you find out who you really are. The enquiry should go on thus, “Here is my body, here is my mind, my heart, my feelings, my intellect, my memory power. I am not any of these. Someone has praised me. Someone has censured me. But to whom does this pertain? Only to this physical body.” In this way you have to develop a sense of detachment and sacrificing nature. How can a physical body abuse another physical body? That is inert and this is also inert. How can inert things criticize or admonish? They cannot. How can they even worship anything? They cannot. But then can atma criticize another atma? That is absurd. One person who has seen God says, ‘God exists.’ Another person who has not seen God, says, ‘God does not exist’. If a person has not seen God, then how can he assert that God does not exist?

Sri Sathya Sai Speaks, Vol. 20 (1987)

Those who have faith in the Gita should note that it has clearly declared that this world is ephemeral and “a vale of tears”, and enduring peace and bliss are not to be found by attachment to it. The source of lasting peace and happiness is within us. That is the atma (the Divine Self). It is by realizing it that peace and bliss have to be secured. One must constantly develop the consciousness that the atma is everything—the doer, the deed, and the outcome thereof. When the consciousness is broadened this way, in due course it leads to Self-realization. If your vision is broad, your destination will also be of the same magnitude. A narrow outlook can lead only to a narrow alley. If you are immersed all the time in the petty trifles of mundane existence, when will you ever understand the reality that is beyond the physical and the mental? Set your sight on the Supreme. The illumination will come in a flash. Everyone should develop the consciousness that “I am atma. I am Brahman”. When one says, “I am Brahman”, it is evident that there is “I” in Brahman. Who is that “I”? “Brahman” means pervasiveness. In declaring “I am Brahman”, the consciousness of all-pervasiveness should be developed. Brahman is all-pervasive. It is equally present everywhere. You should regard yourselves as all-pervasive, omni-self. Whatever you do, whatever you see, whatever you speak, saturate it with Divinity so that you may be aware of your reality.

Sri Sathya Sai Speaks, Vol. 20 (1987)

The whole world appears to contain innumerable names and forms. One should not be enmeshed with these names and forms. It is only when the names and forms are set aside and the underlying source is identified that it is possible to recognize the truth. And that truth is tattwamasi (That Thou Art). That is Prajnanam Brahma (constant integrated awareness is Brahman). That awareness is Ayam Atma Brahma (This Self is Brahman). When you analyze the mahavakya (Divine axiom) tattwamasi, it will lead you to the awareness “I am That” and “That I am”. When you are able to realize this truth, you will find that the principle “I” underlies everything in the universe as the principle of unity. We have to recognize that “I” principle, which is universal. It is a futile exercise to get into arguments and counterarguments over this matter and waste one’s time. The only aspect you have to realize is “I am Brahman.” When somebody questions you who you are, the proper answer would be “I am I”. “I am the word, I am the form, and I am the name”—this “I” represents and explains everything. When somebody questions who you are, do not reply by quoting your name. The name represents the name given to the body. You are not the body. Hence reply, “I am I.” Everyone should strive to attain that state of unity.

Sri Sathya Sai Speaks, Vol. 37 (2004)