25 July 2025
Friday
The Atma is the Truth, and you are the Atma. It is when this truth is experienced that man can realise the transcendental unity that subsumes everything. For this purpose, an enquiry has to be made into Advaita trayam (three aspects of nondualism). These three are: Bhava-advaitam, Kriya-advaitam and Padartha-advaitam. Bhava-advaitam is the enquiry which leads to recognition of the common basis of different objects like cloth and thread, namely, cotton. To recognise the One that underlies the Many is Bhava-advaitam. This involves recognition of the one indwelling Spirit which is common to all beings. Kriya-advaitam relates to the performance of actions, with purity of mind, speech and body, in a spirit of dedication to God. Padartha-advaitam calls for recognition of the elements that are common to all objects and all living things. The Pancha-pranas (five vital airs) and the Pancha-bhutas (five basic elements—earth, water, fire, air and ether) are to be found in all beings. The understanding of these three aspects of oneness will lead to a realisation of the basic unity of the cosmos.
From Swami’s discourse of 23 July 1987
The Atma is the Truth, and you are the Atma. It is when this truth is experienced that man can realise the transcendental unity that subsumes everything. For this purpose, an enquiry has to be made into Advaita trayam (three aspects of nondualism). These three are: Bhava-advaitam, Kriya-advaitam and Padartha-advaitam. Bhava-advaitam is the enquiry which leads to recognition of the common basis of different objects like cloth and thread, namely, cotton. To recognise the One that underlies the Many is Bhava-advaitam. This involves recognition of the one indwelling Spirit which is common to all beings. Kriya-advaitam relates to the performance of actions, with purity of mind, speech and body, in a spirit of dedication to God. Padartha-advaitam calls for recognition of the elements that are common to all objects and all living things. The Pancha-pranas (five vital airs) and the Pancha-bhutas (five basic elements—earth, water, fire, air and ether) are to be found in all beings. The understanding of these three aspects of oneness will lead to a realisation of the basic unity of the cosmos.