LORD SRI KRISHNA

GÎTÂ UPANISHAD

THE ULTIMATE IDENTITY

A Yogi is one who turns within, finds comfort within, finds peace within and rejoices the light within. Such a yogi transforms gradually to be the Brahman. (5/24)

Commentary

The craze for Truth, for Brahman, for God and the related outward search going hither and thither looking for places, swamijis, Gurus, Mahatmas, mountains, lakes, rivers all come to an end with this sloka. Outward search is endless and never fulfilling. Inward search is direct, simple and self-fulfilling. What one searches outside in the name of Truth or Brahman is very much inside as himself. Since he himself is the Truth, he has to search himself. The search leads one from peripherals to the core. The core is unchanged, immutable and eternal. The circumscriptions around him built by nature with its three qualities are ever changing. Since man identifies more with nature than with himself he loses his identity and takes to mistaken identity. By retracing himself from the circumference to the centre, he gets the gifts that encourage him to move forward. This first gift is internal peace. The second gift is internal rest. The third gift is the appearance of un-flickering flame of light, which is called the light within. Contemplating upon that light, the contemplator slowly is drawn towards that light within. Gaining proximity to that light he gradually becomes one with it. The contemplator transforms himself to be the contemplated object, which is the eternal un-flickering light. He thus realizes that he is the light. He gets liberated with his other identities. He understands the other identities as different roles to play as father, mother, brother, sister, son, daughter, employer, employee, superior, subordinate so on and so forth. He gains an unchangeable identity as a unit of light and sees similar lights around. He further proceeds to enquire and contemplate upon the source of light, with deep contemplation in relation to that disappearance of him and appearance of Brahman. Thus I AM the light, becomes THAT. THAT again might come back as THAT I AM, which is different from just I AM. It is the ultimate identity the realised one gains.

"SEVEN TIMES SEVEN THE WHEEL ROTATES"