Aham Brahmasmi: (Sanskrit: अहं ब्रह्मास्मि aham brahmāsmi) "I am Brahman" I am Spirit Soul.
Brahman means: spiritual, and aham-brahmasmi means: I am a spirit soul. I am not this body."The symptoms of the self-realized person are given herein. The first symptom is that he is not illusioned by the false identification of the body with his true self. He knows perfectly well that he is not this material body, but spirit soul, the fragmental portion of the Supreme Personality of Godhead." (Bg 5.20, Purport by Srila Prabhupada)
"He knows that he is not this body and that this body does not belong to
him. He himself belongs to Krsna, and the body too belongs to Krsna.
When he applies everything produced of the body, mind, intelligence,
words, life, wealth, etc.-whatever he may have within his possession-to
Krsna's service, he is at once dovetailed with Krsna. He is one with Krsna
and is devoid of the false ego that leads one to believe that he is the body,
etc. This is the perfect stage of Krsna consciousness."
Bg 5.11, Purport by Srila Prabhupada
"Even though a person may be in full knowledge that he is not this body
but is transcendental to the body, he still may not be able to discriminate
between the soul and the Supersoul. However, he can know everything well
if he cares to take shelter of the perfect, bona fide Krsna conscious
spiritual master."
Bg 5.16, Purport by Srila Prabhupada
"The symptoms of the self-realized person are given herein. The first
symptom is that he is not illusioned by the false identification of the body
with his true self. He knows perfectly well that he is not this body, but is
the fragmental portion of the Supreme Personality of Godhead."
Bg 5.20, Purport by Srila Prabhupada
"The material conception of life makes us very eager to receive honor from
others, but from the point of view of a man in perfect knowledge-who
knows that he is not this body-anything, honor or dishonor, pertaining to
this body is useless. One should not be hankering after this material
deception."
Bg 13.8-12, Purport by Srila Prabhupada
"Aham brahmasmi: I am spirit. It is said that one should understand that he
is Brahman, spirit soul. This Brahman conception of life is also in
devotional service, as described in this verse. The pure devotees are
transcendentally situated on the Brahman platform, and they know
everything about transcendental activities."
Bg 7.29, Purport by Srila Prabhupada
[False ego means accepting this body as oneself. When one understands
that he is not his body and is spirit soul, he comes to his real ego. Ego is
there. False ego is condemned, but not real ego. In the Vedic literature
(Brhad-aranyaka Upanisad 1.4.10) it is said, aham brahmasmi: I am
Brahman, I am spirit. This "I am," the sense of self, also exists in the
liberated stage of self-realization. This sense of "I am" is ego, but when the
sense of "I am" is applied to this false body it is false ego. When the sense
of self is applied to reality, that is real ego.]
Bg 13.8-12, Purport by Srila Prabhupada
["I am not American. I am not Indian. I am not brahmana. I am not ksatriya. I
am not human being." Aham brahmasmi: "I am Brahman." Not the Supreme
Brahman, but part and parcel of Brahman. Supreme Brahman is Krsna,
Parabrahman. He is addressed as Parabrahman. So we are part and parcel
of Brahman. Therefore we are Brahman. So we have to realize this position.
Aham brahmasmi: "I am Brahman." I am not this machine. I am put into this
machine, but because the machine is gotten either from America or from
India or from heaven or from hell, I am designating this machine as
American machine or Indian machine. Actually this machine belongs to
Krsna, and it should be used for Krsna. Therefore the definition of bhakti
means hrsikena hrsikesa-sevanam bhaktir ucyate [Cc. Madhya 19.170]. This is bhakti.]
Bhagavad Gita 2.1-11, Lecture by Srila Prabhupada, Johannesburg, Oct 17, 75
[Immediately he becomes. We are trying to become, to understand aham
brahmasmi. So this realization immediately become effective if one is a
pure devotee. Mam ca yo 'vyabhicarena bhakti-yogena sevate, sa gunan samatityaitan [Bg. 14.26]. He is above all these three qualities.
So if actually you want to make classless society, then you have to accept
this Krsna consciousness movement. There is no other way. If you make
artificially classless society, it will never be effective. The Communists are
trying to make classless society. That classless society can be formed on
spiritual platform, not on the material platform. This will be artificial. Panditah sama-darsinah [Bg. 5.18]. When one is actually advanced in
knowledge... Advanced with knowledge means one should understand that "I am eternal servant of Krsna, or God." That is advancement of knowledge.
Aham brahmasmi: "I am not this body, I am spirit soul. And Krsna is the
supreme soul. I am part and parcel of Krsna." Brahma-bhutah prasannatma na socati na kanksati [Bg. 18.54]. Simply by understanding that "I am spirit
soul, I am Brahman," will not help us. You must act like Brahman. Then it
will be... Janma, guna-karma-vibhagasah [Bg. 4.13].]
Bhagavad Gita 2.2-6, Lectures by Srila Prabhupada, Ahmedabad, Dec 11, 1972
[Just try to understand how much ignorant we are. We are all in ignorance.
This education is wanted because people, by this ignorance, they're
fighting with one another. One nation is fighting with another, one
religionist is fighting with another religionist. But it is all based on
ignorance. I am not this body. Therefore sastra says, yasyatma-buddhih kunape tri-dhatuke [SB 10.84.13]. Atma-buddhih kunape, this is a bag of
bones and muscles, and it is manufactured by three dhatus. Dhatu means
elements. According to Ayur-vedic system: kapha, pitta, vayu. Material
things. So therefore I am a spirit soul. I am part and parcel of God. Aham brahmasmi. This is the Vedic education. Try to understand that you do not
belong to this material world. You belong to the spiritual world. You are
part and parcel of God. Mamaivamso jiva-bhutah [Bg. 15.7]. In the
Bhagavad-gita, God says that "All living entities are My part and parcels."
Manah sasthanindriyani prakrti-sthani karsati [Bg. 15.7].]
Bhagavad Gita 2.11, Lectures by Srila Prabhupada, Edinburgh, July 16, 1972
[In the Srimad-Bhagavatam, those who are under the bodily concept of life,
they are described as follows: Yasya atma-buddhih. Atma means self.
Atma-buddhih, in this body, what is this body? Kunape tri-dhatuke. It is a
bag of three elements, kapha, pitta, vayu. Mucus, bile and air. So, or
ordinarily you can understand, this is a combination, this material body is
combination of flesh, bone, blood, mucus, stool, urine, and so many other
things. That, we are not self, but the foolish persons, they are taking this
lump of matter, bones and flesh, accepting that "I am this body." No
learned man will take like that. The whole world is misled under this
conception. They are accepting this lump of matter, blood and flesh and
bones-"I am this is I am." This is animal mentality. Animal thinks like that,
not learned man. Learned man, one who knows, he will say aham brahmasmi, "I am spirit soul. I am servant of God." This is learned
speaking."I am not this body."]
Bhagavad Gita 2.11, Lectures by Srila Prabhupada, London, Aug 17, 73
[Out of many millions of persons, one becomes siddha, perfect. So that perfection is not complete perfection. That perfection means aham brahmasmi: "I am not this material body; I am spirit soul." So one who
understands this position of oneself is calculated as perfect, but yatatam api siddhanam [Bg. 7.3], in that perfect stage if one endeavors to
understand Krsna, yatatam api siddhanam kascid, out of many such
millions of persons who trying to understand Krsna in perfection, one may
understand. So it is not so easy. Janma karma ca me divyam yo jana... [Bg.
4.9], again tattvatah. That factual understanding is possible. How it is
possible? Bhaktya mam abhijanati yavan yas casmi tattvatah [Bg. 18.55].
Only through devotion you can understand. So these problems will be
solved when you become a devotee.]
Bhagavad Gita 2.11, Lectures by Srila Prabhupada, Rotary Club Address -- Hotel Imperial, Delhi, March 25, 76
[So this is the position for everyone. You ask any learned scientist,
professor, "Who are you?" He'll say, "I am Mr. John." He'll say, "I am Mr.
John, I am American," or "I am Mexican," "I am Indian," like that. So this is
ignorance. Nobody is this body. That is the first lesson of spiritual
knowledge. So long we identify with this body, that "I am Mr. Such-and-
such," "I am American," "I am Indian," this is all ignorance. When you
actually understand that you are not this body-therefore you are not
American, nor Indian nor Mexican, but you are spirit soul-then your
spiritual education begins. And that is... In Sanskrit it is called aham brahmasmi: "I am spirit soul." Spiritual... Spirit soul has no connection with
this material world. When one understands fully this, I mean to say, fact,
that spirit soul is different from this material world, then he's actually
learned. In that stage he's called situated in brahma-bhutah stage. The
symptom of brahma-bhutah is brahma-bhutah prasannatma [Bg. 18.54]. As
soon as one becomes self-realized, he becomes jubilant, jolly. So long one
identifies with this body, he is unhappy, full of anxiety.]
Bhagavad Gita 2.12, Lectures by Srila Prabhupada, Mexico, Feb 12, 75
[So first of all you have to understand that we are spirit soul, aham brahmasmi, Brahman."I am not matter, I am spirit," aham brahmasmi.
These are Vedic words, so 'ham. So 'ham does not mean "I am God." I am
God-ly-I am part and parcel of. As God is in quality, so I am also in quality.
Just like a drop of ocean water, qualitatively it is the same as the vast mass
of water in the sea, but not the drop of water is equal to the vast mass of
water. Similarly, in quality, so 'ham, "I am," that means the Supreme God,
as He is in quality, I am also the same in quality. So 'ham. Aham brahmasmi, "I am Brahman. I am not this matter, I am spirit soul." These
are the knowledge.
So when one comes to that knowledge, brahma-bhutah... Now we are not brahma-bhutah, prakrta-bhutah, jiva-bhutah, the exact word. Jiva-bhutam maha-baho yayedam dharyate jagat [Bg. 7.5]. The world is being
maintained by this jiva-bhutah, by the living entities.]
Bhagavad Gita 2.13, Lectures by Srila Prabhupada, Manila, Oct 12, 1972
[Prabhupada: ...tatha dehantara-praptir dhiras tatra na muhyati [Bg. 2.13].
We began this verse yesterday. This is the criterion of understanding
spiritual life. People generally do not understand that there is another
element beyond this body. Generally, people, they are under the
impression that "I am this body. I am Indian." Why I am Indian? Because
this body's born in India. Therefore, I'm Indian."I am American." Why?
"Because body is born in America; therefore I am American." Similarly, this
dehatma-buddhih, bodily concept of life, is going on all over the world.
This is ignorance, ajnana. This is called ajnana. Jnana and ajnana. Jnana
means one who
knows that he is not this body. He's spirit soul. Aham brahmasmi.]
Bhagavad Gita 2.13, Lectures by Srila Prabhupada, Hyderbad, Nov 19th, 72
[Just like I am not this body. I am spirit soul. Aham brahmasmi. But we are
giving identification with this body."I am Indian," "I am American," "I am
brahmana," "I am sudra." So this is illusion.]
Bhagavad Gita 2.13, Lectures by Srila Prabhupada, Hyderbad, Nov 19, 72
[So spiritual rejuvenation required. Aham brahmasmi: "I am not this body. I
am Brahman, spiritual soul." Then you will be happy. Brahma-bhutah
prasannatma na socati na kanksati [Bg. 18.54], samah sarvesu... Then there
will be equality, fraternity, brotherhood. Otherwise it is all bogus, simply
high-sounding words. There cannot be all these things. Come to the
spiritual platform, brahma-bhutah prasannatma na socati na... [Bg. 18.54], samah sarvesu bhutesu. Then you can see equally.]
Bhagavad Gita 2.13, Lectures by Srila Prabhupada, London, Aug 19, 73
[Pandita means those who are learned. Learned means brahmana, not
sudra. Sudras, they are not learned. Mlecchas, yavanas, sudras, kirata- hunandhra-pulinda-pulkasa abhira [SB 2.4.18], so many. Learned means
brahmana. Learned means that one who knows that Brahman. Brahman,
the spirit soul, is part and parcel of the Supreme Brahman. So one who has
come to that knowledge, that "I am not this body; I am spirit soul; aham brahmasmi," that is knowledge. Knowledge begins from there. If one does
not reach to that point, aham brahmasmi, then he is animal. The animal thinking like that, "I am rickshaw," "I am motorcar," "I am cat," "I am dog,"
"I am this," "I am that." That is animal thinking. But a person... Learned
thinking is that "I am not this body; I am part and parcel of the Supreme
Brahman, aham brahmasmi." And when you are farther advanced from
Brahman knowledge... The knowledge begins from there. When you make
further advancement, then you can understand that "I am eternal servant of
Krsna." This is perfect knowledge. First of all knowledge begins that "I am
not this body."]
Bhagavad Gita 2.14, Lectures by Srila Prabhupada, London, Aug 20, 73
[So the simple method offered by Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu is this chanting
Hare Krsna mantra. He says personally, ceto-darpana-marjanam bhava- maha-davagni-nirvapanam [Cc. Antya 20.12], means "By chanting Hare
Krsna mantra your heart will be cleansed, and as soon as your heart is
cleansed, you can feel everything in its proper order." So when the heart is
cleansed we can understand our real position and how we are suffering
and how to take steps against this suffering. This is called bhava-maha- davagni-nirvapanam, extinguishing the blazing fire of material existence. In
this verse it is mentioned again, dhira. Dhira means very sober. In the
beginning Krsna said, dhiras tatra na muhyati [Bg. 2.13]. Dhira means one
who is sober. He is not bewildered. So dhira means that although there is
cause of disturbance, one is not disturbed. Although there is cigarette, but
I should promise, "I shall not smoke." Although there is facility for illicit
sex, I'll not do it. That is called dhira. Dhira means the cause of agitation or
disturbance is present there, but one is not disturbed. So in order to
advance in spiritual life we have to become dhira. And that is said here, sama-duhkha-sukham dhiram. As soon as one become dhira, sober, these
so-called material pains and pleasure does not disturb me (him). Then he is
fit for becoming immortal. Everyone is immortal, but he is fallen in such
material condition that he thinks himself as mortal. Because I am spirit
soul, therefore the Vedic injunction that feel:(?) aham brahmasmi, so 'ham,
means "I am as good as the Supreme Being," means "He is eternal; I am
also eternal. He is also living being; I am also living being." That means
qualitatively we are one, God and me. But quantitatively, He is great; we are
small.]
Bhagavad Gita 2.15, Lectures by Srila Prabhupada, Mexico, Feb 15, 75
"You'll find in the Fourth Chapter. Ajo 'pi. Krsna is aja. Aja means who
never takes birth. Similarly, we being part and parcel of Krsna, we also
never take birth. The birth and death is of this body, and we are so
absorbed in the bodily concept of life that when there is birth or death of
the body we feel the pains and pleasures. There is no pleasure of course. Birth and death, it is very painful. Because... That is already explained. The
consciousness of the soul is spread all over the body. Therefore, the pains
and pleasures felt on account of this body. So Krsna has already advised
that such kinds of pains and pleasure, matra-sparsas tu kaunteya [Bg.
2.14], touching the skin only, one should not be very much bothered. Tams titiksasva bharata. In this way if we think about our position, self-
realization, how we are different from the body... Actually, this is
meditation. If we think very seriously about ourselves and about the body,
that is self-realization. Self-realization means I am not this body, I am aham brahmasmi, I am spirit soul. That is self-realization."
Bhagavad Gita 2.19, Lectures by Srila Prabhupada, London, Aug 25, 1973
[Prabhupada: Desire means material desires. If you think that you are
Indian and your desire is how to make your country improve... Or so many
desires. Or if you are a family man. So these are all material desires. So
long you are enwrapped by material desires, then you are under the
condition of material nature. As soon as you think that you are, your, you
are not Indian or American, you are not a brahmana or Vaisnava, brahmana
or ksatriya, you are eternal servant of Krsna, that is called purified desire.
Desire is there, but you have to purify the desire. That I have explained just
now. Sarvopadhi-vinirmuktam [Cc. Madhya 19.170]. These are upadhis.
Suppose you are in a black coat. So does it mean you are black coat? If
you say... If I ask you, "Who are you?" If you say, "I am black coat," is that
the proper answer? No. Similarly, we are in a dress, American dress or
Indian dress. So if somebody asks you "Who are you?" "I am Indian." That
is wrong identification. If you say, "Aham brahmasmi," that is your real
identification. That realization required.]
Bhagavad Gita 2.20, Lectures by Srila Prabhupada, Hyderbad, Nov 25, 72
"Take to Krsna consciousness and be happy. This is not an ordinary
movement. People are suffering actually for want of spiritual life, spiritual
understanding. So the basic principle of spiritual understanding is to know
one's self. Aham brahmasmi. That, to come to that point,
Krsna is explaining that this body is like the dress, and the person who is
dressed, that is within the dress. Dehino 'smin yatha dehe [Bg. 2.13]."
Bhagavad Gita 2.22, Lectures by Srila Prabhupada, Hyderabad, Nov 26, 72
[So one who becomes realized, self-realized person, brahma-bhuta, [SB
4.30.20] brahma-bhutah prasannatma [Bg. 18.54], then what does it remain
for him? That is the ultimate goal of life, to become aham brahmasmi. The
Vedic literature teaches us that "Don't think that you belong to this matter.You are Brahman." Krsna is Parabrahman, and we are subordinate
Brahman. Nitya-krsna-dasa. We are servant Brahman. He's master
Brahman.]
Bhagavad Gita 2.24, Lectures by Srila Prabhupada, Hyderabad, Nov 28, 72
[Human civilization will begin when one will understand that "I am not this body. I am spirit soul." Aham brahmasmi. That is the beginning of human civilization. And so long one is under the bodily concept of life, it is the civilization of cats and dogs. That's all. Thank you very much. Hare Krsna. [break]
Indian: (Hindi) [break]
Prabhupada: (answering question:) Then gradually we can understand. Ceto-darpana-marjanam [Cc. Antya 20.12]. If you associate with devotees,
hear them, then gradually everything will be cleared, and you'll understand
your position. Then you understand: "Oh, I am not this body." Aham brahmasmi. That is the beginning of knowledge. Otherwise, so long you
are under the bodily concept of life, you are in the animal platform. That is
the difference. [break] But bhakti's such a nice thing that krsnakarsini.
Bhakti attract Krsna. Krsna attracts everything, but bhakti attracts Krsna.
Therefore we have to adopt the bhakti means. Bhaktya mam abhijanati,
yavan yas casmi tattvatah.]
Bhagavad Gita 2.25, Lectures by Srila Prabhupada, Hyderabad, Nov 29, 72
[So first of all, we have to become brahmana. Then Vaisnava. Brahmana
simply knows that "I am spirit soul," aham brahmasmi. Brahma janati iti brahmana. Brahma-bhutah prasannatma [Bg. 18.54]. By such knowledge
one becomes prasannatma. Means relieved. As you feel relief... When there
is burden on your head, and the burden is taken away you feel relieved,
similarly, this ignorance that "I am this body" is a great burden, a burden
upon us. So when you get out of this burden, then you feel relieved.
Brahma-bhutah prasannatma [Bg. 18.54]. Means when actually one
understands that "I am not this body; I am soul," then he has to work so
hard for maintaining this body, so he gets relief that "Why I am working so
hard for this lump of material things? Let me execute my real necessity of
life, spiritual life." That is great relief. That is great relief. Brahma-bhutah prasannatma na socati na kanksati [Bg. 18.54]. The relief means there is
hankering, no more lamentation. These are the brahma-bhutah.]
Bhagavad Gita 2.25, Lectures by Srila Prabhupada, London, Aug 28, 73
[Mukti means liberation. What is the liberation? Liberation means, Bhagavata explains, hitva anyatha rupam. Anyatha rupam means a different
identification. When one gives up the different identification and is
established in his own real identity, that is called mukti. Now our
identification is that "I am matter; therefore I am this body; therefore I
belong to this country; therefore I am American; therefore I am this, I am
that, I am that." You see? This is our diseased condition. So mukti means
one has to be released from this wrong identification. And after giving up
wrong identification, what is my real identification? Oh, I am, aham
brahmasmi, I am the part and parcel of the Supreme. That's it. So if anyone
is reestablished in his original constitutional position as part and parcel of
the Supreme and engages his energy in that way, he is liberated. This is
the definition
of liberation. So it is also advised here?]
Bhagavad Gita 2.40-45, Lectures by Srila Prabhupada, Los Angeles, Dec 13, 68
[Prabhupada: Yes. That I just now explained. That is liberation. I am
identified just now with this matter."I am this body, I belong to this
country, I belong to this world." This is illusion. And as soon as I can
understand that I belong to none of these, I belong to Krsna, that is
enlightenment. Simply changing the understanding. It is not very difficult.
But it is difficult one who cannot understand. That is another thing. But if
one can understand this fact, then he's immediately enlightened. Just like
this light, it is now enlightened. There is illumination. And as soon as the
switch is off, immediately darkness. And switch is on, immediately light. So
it is not very difficult to understand what is enlightenment. Enlightened
means aham brahmasmi. I do not belong to this material world. I belong to
the Supreme Spirit. That conviction makes you enlightened. So anyone
who has got this conviction, he's enlightened. This is not very difficult.]
Bhagavad Gita 2.40-45, Lectures by Srila Prabhupada, Los Angeles, Dec 13, 68
[Brahmana means who knows that "I am not this body; I am the... I am the...
I am in spirit, conscious. I am soul, spirit, consciousness," one who knows
perfectly well this understanding and the science also, that "I am
qualitatively one with the Supreme Lord," aham brahmasmi. The Vedic
mantra says, aham brahmasmi. That means "I am Brahman. I am not this
matter. I am Brahman." So one who knows this science, he is called
brahmana. And that doesn't matter who is he and where he is
born. That
doesn't matter. Simply knowing this science...]
Bhagavad Gita 2.48-49, Lectures by Srila Prabhupada, New York, April 1, 1966
[Prabhupada: Our position is, we are constituted of this body. Body means
the senses and the controller of the senses or the, what is called, driver, driver of the senses, is the mind. And mind is conducted, thinking, feeling,
and willing, the psychology, the science of psychology, that is being
conducted under intelligence. And above the intelligence, I am sitting. I am
a spirit soul. So how we become victim of this maya, that is described here,
that from anger, delusion arises, and from delusion, bewilderment of
memory. Bewilderment memory. I have forgotten completely that I am not
this body, I am spirit soul, aham brahmasmi; I am part and parcel of the
Supreme Brahman, spirit, absolute whole. That I have forgotten. And when
memory is bewildered, and as soon as I forget that I am spirit soul, I
identify myself with this material world, illusion. Intelligence is lost. I
should have used my intelligence to conduct the activities of the mind-
thinking, feeling and willing-and because my mind is not controlled, my
senses are not controlled, therefore I am fallen. This is the analysis of the
whole bodily construction. Go on.]
Bhagavad Gita 2.62-72, Lectures by Srila Prabhupada, Los Angeles, Dec 19, 68