Atma

Atma

Our Eternal Self

A star is shining within us and that is our Spirit.

At a very early stage in the development of the human fetus, the Atma (a Sanskrit word meaning our eternal Spirit) enters the fetus' heart for the first time, which then begins to pulsate. Biologically our heart develops near the head of the embryo in the cardiogenic area and later is pushed down into the chest as our body develops. The Atma resides in the heart as a silent spectator to our life and only comes into our awareness through self-realization. It is the reflection of the primordial being within us. It does not evolve, it is rather the goal of our evolution, or one could say the evolution of human awareness, to reach the state of the Spirit.

While Western philosophy revolves around individualism and the development of the personality or ego, Eastern philosophy is related to collectivism and endeavors to turn the individual inwards to our collective being, the all-pervading Spirit.

Shri Mataji describes how the cutting of the umbilical cord at birth causes a separation in our awareness from the absolute divine awareness in the subtle Sushumna channel. On a gross level this separation corresponds to the gap between the solar plexus and the vagus nerve of the parasympathetic nervous system. This phenomenon has been named in many ancient scriptures for example, as Void in the Zen system and Maya (illusion) in Hinduism. Later, during our childhood, when our limited human identifications, symbolized as ego and superego, inflate like a balloon covering the left and right hemispheres of the brain corresponding to the ends of the left and right sympathetic nervous systems, it completely envelops our consciousness as a separate entity and the consciousness of the 'I' (Aham) presides.

Through the process of self-realization when the Kundalini rises to the heart it enlightens the Atma and we start feeling the innate quality of Atma, the pure joy of existence. When the Kundalini rises further to the Sahasrara Chakra, the highest energy center placed at the fontanel bone area of our heads, our individual Atma is connected to the all-pervading universal power and we are drenched in the bliss of being at one with ourselves and the power which pervades the universe. Even an inkling of this joy (that we may perceive when just a few strands of the Kundalini rise above our heads) can serve as a guiding star on our spiritual journey. Once we feel that joy, we don't want to lose it and will automatically abstain from attitudes and behaviors that are detrimental to its maintenance and growth. Hence, there are very few rules in Sahaja Yoga and no dogma as such.

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Then one has to know that we are peace, because spirit is the source of peace. Once you become the spirit, the spirit comes into your attention and you become a very peaceful person. It’s like you are on the periphery, like on the wheel: if you are on the periphery you are moving all the time, but the center of the wheel is absolutely peaceful. So, as if you jump on to your center, from there you’ll see all the movement of the wheel, but you are in the center and you are not disturbed. You can see the problems very easy to be handled.

Adi Shankaracharya, one of India’s renowned spiritual masters, describes this absolute state of awareness of the collective being reflecting in our heart as eternal bliss, in the beautiful verses of "Atma Shatakam"

"Manobuddhyahamkar. Chittani Na Aham

I am neither intelligence, mind, attention, nor ego

Na cha Shrotr. Jihve, Na cha ghraan Netreghraan Netre

I am neither the organs of hearing, nor that of tasting, smelling or seeing

Na cha vyom. Bhumir Na Tejo Na Vayu

I am neither the Sky, nor the Earth, neither the Fire nor the Air

Chidanand. Rupah., Shivo.ham, Shivo.ham

I am eternal bliss and awareness, I am Shiva, I am Shiva "

Truth is that, you are not this body, you are not this intellect, you are not the emotions but you are the Spirit.

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