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He Who Knows Ultimate Reality Sees Himself In God And Sees All In God – The Message of The East

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When we have subdued our passions and freed ourselves from all doubts and prejudice, the light of Truth will burst on our hearts in all its divine effulgence and purity.

He who knows the Ultimate Reality, after having become quiet, subdued, satisfied, patient and collected, sees himself in God, sees all in God.

Evil does not overcome him, he overcomes all evil.

Murudeshwara Temple, Karnataka

Free from evil, free from stain, free from doubt, he becomes a true God-knower.

He then penetrates into the illimitable realm of truth and realizes the supreme fact that to know God is not only possible for the spirit of man, but is its consummation and eternal life.

The sphere of religion then becomes, to quote the lofty words of Hegel: “A region in which the spirit rids itself of its finiteness and relates itself to that which is unlimited and infinite; where its attitude is no longer that of dependence but of freedom; and where the individual has no longer to do with himself, his interest, his vanity but only with absolute truth. All anxiety and doubt, all petty cares and troubles, all narrow and selfish interest, are left behind on the sandbank of time. In this pure region we penetrate beyond the outward deceitful shows and semblances of the world and behold all things revealed to us, transfigured in the pure light of truth and softened in its halo of eternal rest and peace.

Source – Magazine – Message of the East, March 1916

Explanation:

The phrase "He who knows ultimate reality sees himself in God and sees all in God" resonates deeply with Hindu philosophy, especially in the context of Advaita Vedanta and other schools of thought that emphasize the unity of the individual soul (Atman) with the ultimate reality (Brahman). Let's break this down in the context of Hindu teachings:

Key Concepts

  1. Brahman:

    • Definition: The ultimate, unchanging reality amidst and beyond the world, which cannot be exactly defined.
    • Attributes: Infinite, eternal, and the source of all that exists.

  2. Atman:

    • Definition: The inner self or soul of an individual.
    • Relationship with Brahman: In Advaita Vedanta, Atman is considered identical to Brahman.

  3. Advaita Vedanta:

    • Core Teaching: The non-dualistic school of Hindu philosophy which teaches that the individual self (Atman) and the ultimate reality (Brahman) are one and the same.
    • Moksha: Liberation or enlightenment is achieved by realizing this non-duality.

Understanding the Phrase

  1. Knowing Ultimate Reality:

    • Jnana (Knowledge): The highest form of spiritual knowledge is realizing the oneness of Atman and Brahman.
    • Spiritual Practice: Through meditation, self-inquiry, and guidance from a guru, one can attain this realization.

  2. Sees Himself in God:

    • Self-Realization: A person who has realized Brahman understands that his true self (Atman) is not separate from God (Brahman).
    • Unity with God: This realization brings about a profound inner transformation where the individual ego dissolves, and the sense of individuality merges into the cosmic consciousness.

  3. Sees All in God:

    • Universal Oneness: This realization extends to seeing all beings and the entire universe as manifestations of Brahman.
    • Compassion and Non-Duality: This leads to a life of compassion, as the boundaries between self and others dissolve. The enlightened person sees everything as an expression of the same divine reality.

Scriptural References

  1. Bhagavad Gita:

    • Verse 6.29: "A yogi who is united in consciousness with the Self sees his own Self in all beings and all beings in his own Self."
    • Verse 4.24: "Brahman is the offering, Brahman is the oblation, Brahman is the fire, and Brahman is the sacrificer. In Brahman, the offering is made, and Brahman is the goal to be attained by him who sees Brahman in every action."

  2. Upanishads:

    • Chandogya Upanishad 6.8.7: "Tat Tvam Asi" (That Thou Art) - This famous mahavakya (great saying) implies the oneness of Atman and Brahman.
    • Mandukya Upanishad: Describes the nature of the Self and the realization of non-duality.

Practical Implications

  1. Spiritual Journey:

    • The teaching encourages individuals to embark on a spiritual journey to discover their true nature.
    • Practices such as meditation, self-inquiry (Atma Vichara), and devotion (Bhakti) are paths to this realization.

  2. Living in Harmony:

    • Realizing the unity of all existence fosters a sense of harmony with the world.
    • It encourages ethical living, compassion, and a deep sense of interconnectedness.

In essence, this teaching encapsulates the profound insight of Hindu philosophy that the ultimate truth is the non-dual reality where the self and the divine are one, and this realization leads to seeing all existence as an expression of the divine.