Mr. Shamanna from Mysore asked Sri Bhagavan: Kindly explain (the light of “I”—“I”).
M.: ‘I’ is not known in sleep. On waking ‘I’ is perceived associated with the body, the world and non-self in general. Such associated ‘I’ is “”. When represents the Self only it is . This is natural to the and is itself called by jnānis, or by bhaktas. Though remaining in sleep it is not perceived. It cannot be known in sleep all at once. It must first be realised in the waking state, for it is our true nature underlying all the three states. Efforts must be made only in the state and the Self realised here and now. It will afterwards be understood and realised to be the continuous Self, uninterrupted by jāgrat, and . Thus it is Akhandākāra vritti (unbroken experience). “” is used for lack of a better expression. It should not be understood to be literally a vritti. In that case, vritti will resemble an ‘ocean-like river,’ which is absurd. Vritti is of short duration; it is qualified, directed consciousness; or absolute consciousness broken up by cognition of thoughts, senses, etc. Vritti is the function of the mind, whereas the continuous consciousness transcends the mind. This is the natural, primal state of the jnāni or the liberated being. That is unbroken experience. It asserts itself when relative consciousness subsides. Aham vritti (‘I’- thought) is broken, Aham sphurana (the light of ‘I’— ‘I’) is unbroken, continuous. After the thoughts subside, the light shines forth.