Devotee:
Greetings, Gurudev!
Guru Shyama Khyapa:
Greetings, my son.
Devotee:
Welcome, friends, to the "Gupta Sadhak Syama Khepa" YouTube channel. We invite you to subscribe to our channel more and more, and please send in your topics of interest so we can listen to Gurudev’s insights on them. Today, we want to hear Gurudev speak on a topic requested by a devotee—"Atma-Jnana" (Self-Knowledge) and "Brahma-Jnana" (Divine Knowledge). We have heard in our scriptures that our primary goal is to know ourselves. After knowing oneself, the journey doesn't end; one seeks the realization of Brahman through spiritual practice. As an ordinary host, I have shared this much, but we look to Gurudev for the correct explanation. Gurudev, please explain to us what Atma-Jnana and Brahma-Jnana truly are.
Guru Shyama Khyapa:
Atma-Jnana means recognizing or knowing one's own soul. Now, the question arises: "Who am I?" Finding the answer to "Who am I?" is very difficult. "From where am I coming?" That too is hard to answer. And "What is my duty?" These three together constitute Atma-Jnana.
Guru Shyama Khyapa:
When asked "Who am I?", the answer is often "I am He" (So’ham). I have come from that Supreme Master who sent me to this world. "So’ham" is realized much later. He has sent us to perform certain duties. Among them, knowing oneself is a primary duty. Then comes understanding one’s responsibilities, what needs to be done, and why I have come to this world. Why was there a need for me to come here? It might have been better if I hadn't, but since I am here and He has sent me, I have work to do. To understand that work, we strive for Atma-Jnana.
Guru Shyama Khyapa:
However, we rarely find the answers. "Who am I?", "From where do I come?", and "What is my duty?"—these remain elusive. But seekers (Sadhaks) realize these things beforehand. Without Atma-Jnana, Brahma-Jnana cannot occur. Brahma-Jnana comes much later; Atma-Jnana comes first. We often say—look at your own image and worship yourself. Ask yourself repeatedly: "Who am I?" I am He; I have come from that Supreme Being where creation, preservation, and dissolution happen. We have come from there.
Guru Shyama Khyapa:
To understand our purpose, we need the help of scriptures. This won't happen on its own. One must take refuge in the Gita. If you study the Gita regularly, you will understand why you are here and what you must do. The scriptures have laid this out clearly. You can find this knowledge in the Gita, the Upanishads, and the Vedas. The Vedas are the source, followed by the Gita and the Upanishads. One must rely on these three. Only then can you know "Who am I?", "Where am I from?", and "What is my duty?" When Atma-Jnana is attained, one can truly say, "So’ham"—I am He. Trust me, and I will give you peace.
Devotee:
Gurudev, is the guidance of a Satguru (True Guru) important here?
Guru Shyama Khyapa:
Of course! A Satguru must be there. But a Guru won't tell you everything right away. No question about it. We say, worship your own image. There is no need to worship God separately because you must know yourself first. If you don't know yourself, how will you know God? As you keep asking "Who am I?", memories of past lives may even surface—who you were in previous births. It is possible to know. And you come from the Supreme Being who created you, the one in the heavens, the immortal, effulgent, and auspicious Being who sent you to this Earth. Your duty is described in the Gita, Upanishads, and Vedas. You must take refuge in them; otherwise, Atma-Jnana cannot be attained.
Guru Shyama Khyapa:
Now, Brahma-Jnana is self-manifesting (Swayambhu); it arises from within. But those who attain Brahma-Jnana might not even realize they have attained it. Like the twelve Jyotirlingas, which are self-manifested. No one created or installed them; they emerged from the earth and are gradually receding. We saw how Kedarnath was affected, how Pashupatinath was affected. One by one, they are leaving this world—Kashi Vishwanath, Somnath—they are all departing.
Guru Shyama Khyapa:
Since Brahma-Jnana originates from within, no one can "give" it to you. It is an internal awakening. And the one who has it often doesn't even know it. If they somehow become conscious of it, their stay in this world becomes difficult. It is a state of "Turiya" (transcendental consciousness). We saw this in Chaitanya Mahaprabhu, Ramakrishna, Bamdev, Trailanga Swami, and Rishi Aurobindo. They realized Brahman, but they never went around claiming, "I have Brahma-Jnana."
Guru Shyama Khyapa:
Only a very few—perhaps one or two in millions—can recognize Brahma-Jnana in someone else. When Divine Knowledge awakens, it happens at the Sahasrara (the thousand-petaled crown chakra). First, the Muladhara must be awakened, then the Kundalini, then the Swadhisthana, Manipur, Vishuddha, and the Ajna chakra. When these six chakras are pierced and the Sahasrara is reached, one attains Brahma-Jnana.
Guru Shyama Khyapa:
Brahma-Jnana is like an ocean. Its depth cannot be measured. Ramakrishna once told Vidyasagar, "You are an ocean of knowledge (Vidyasagar), but an ocean of salt water." He said this in a lighthearted yet profound way. If you examine his life and actions, you see he knew everything. He told Vidyasagar, "You are an ocean of knowledge, but filled with salt." Ramakrishna and Bamdev were Brahma-Jnanis, but they never bragged about it. Society and people labeled them as such.
Devotee:
Gurudev, this reminds me of Gautama Buddha. When his disciples asked about Brahma-Jnana, he avoided theoretical discussions. He would smile and say that Brahma-Jnana is as deep as the ocean, as high as the mountains, and as sweet as honey. It is a realization, not something to be proclaimed.
Guru Shyama Khyapa:
Exactly. It is a vast ocean that cannot be measured. This knowledge is infinite. "Buddha" himself means the "Enlightened One." He became Buddha after intense penance when Gautami offered him food (Payas).
Guru Shyama Khyapa:
In today's world, this discussion is very relevant. While Brahma-Jnana is the highest stage, Atma-Jnana (knowing oneself) is a necessity for everyone. People are unaware of the power within them.
Guru Shyama Khyapa:
It is natural they are unaware, because currently, we are living in an era of materialism (Bhogbaad). In a materialistic society, people don't think about these things. Only those on the path of renunciation (Tyagbaad) contemplate this. People might read a couple of books, but how many actually keep the company of saints (Sadhusangha) who can explain these things? The popular "saints" you see today are often busy making money; they don't have time for this.
Guru Shyama Khyapa:
But I say to you—understand, know. If needed, come to people like us; we will explain as much as we can to those who are thirsty for knowledge. Ramprasad once said, "In the midst of the ocean of knowledge, the pearl of peace is found." One who has knowledge has peace. Today, there is a great lack of peace. Ramprasad measured this and said that peace is the fruit of the ocean of knowledge. You will find it through devotion, just as Shiva made a pact with Shakti. Shiva is the attributeless (Nirguna), and the Mother is the one with attributes (Saguna). The Saguna stands upon the Nirguna. This is the "Shiv-Chukti" (Shiva’s pact). You can do the same—tell the Mother, "I will stay at your feet."
Devotee:
Friends, you heard from Gurudev. He concluded by saying that the problem in countries like India today is materialism. However, Gurudev has also mentioned elsewhere that developed Western countries have realized that materialism isn't the end; renunciation and spirituality are the ultimate paths. Friends, continue watching our "Gupta Sadhak Syama Khepa" YouTube channel. Like, share, and subscribe to our videos. Greetings, Gurudev!
Guru Shyama Khyapa:
Blessings to you, my son.