The First Maxim of Religion

Know Your True Self

You (the jivas) live in this word in a state of artificial sleep; you regard this word as real, but this is only like a false dream. It is high time you come out of this illusory influence of Maya. Break the thralldom of misconceptions about your true-identity. Destroy the smog of ignorance that has shielded your inner self by the radiance of Atma-gyana (knowledge of soul-reality).

Penetrate the five Koshas (sheaths of physical body, energy body, mind intellect, and the unconscious mind with ego) and liberate your true self. Don't cry "I" "I"; rather, chant "Oam" "Oam" - the eternal sound of the Omnipresent. You are the soul, the king of all kings. Recall the words of Upanishads - "Tat tvam Asi" ('you' are 'That' - the Almighty). Realization of 'That' in the 'self' is like becoming 'That'

Uproot your vices, restrain your senses, purity and control your mind and intellect, learn to distinguish between the truth and the false, the invisible and the infinite… Shun out the petty desires and miseries, long for the lasting joy of meeting the soul. Inculcate introvert search for the soul. Attain atma-gyana and ultimate bliss.

The First Maxim of Religion

The first maxim of the eternal religion is that - the soul is one (Brahm). But how the "One" ("Brahm" could be many jivas). Well, it does not become many; it only appears to be manifested in many forms. This illusion is like - the mirage of oasis in desert, blue color of the sky, suspicion of a snake in a rope, glow of silver in oyster, etc.

What you perceive need not always be real. You should try knowing the ultimate truth by devout endeavors of introvert thinking, self-study, contemplation over the teachings of Brahmvidya, meditation upon "Oam" and upon the soul-reality of Sat, Chit, and Amanda.

All the negativity, misery, fear and flaws in your life are because of your ignorance of your own self. Elimination of illusion and kindling of the light of true knowledge is the key to unalloyed joy. Always remember what the Upanishads say - "the jiva and the Brahm are the same". You are indeed the omnipresent soul, ever existing beyond the bonds of time and space.

Grasp the essence of the divine knowledge of the Vedas - know that you are the immortal soul or the self-existent Brahm, the Omnipresent, Supreme Consciousness Force.