Day 1: "Tat Tvam Asi" – You Are That
"सत्यं ज्ञानमनन्तं ब्रह्म"
"Satyam Jñānam Anantam Brahman"
(Truth, Knowledge, and Infinity are Brahman)
— Taittiriya Upanishad
This shloka speaks of Brahman, the ultimate reality, encompassing truth, knowledge, and infinity. It conveys the idea that everything in the universe, including ourselves, is made of this infinite, eternal essence.
Upanishadic Teaching:
"Tat Tvam Asi" (तत् त्वम् असि) – “You are That”
Story from the Upanishads:
In the Chandogya Upanishad, the sage Uddalaka Aruni teaches his son Shvetaketu a profound truth. Uddalaka explains that everything in the universe, from the smallest particle to the vast cosmos, is made of the same essence—Brahman.
To make Shvetaketu understand, Uddalaka uses a simple analogy. He says, just as all clay objects come from clay, so too, all beings come from Brahman. He then tells his son, “Tat Tvam Asi” – “You are That,” meaning that you, too, are divine, just like the universe itself. The divine essence that exists in the world exists within you as well.
This powerful teaching of "Tat Tvam Asi" emphasizes the oneness of the individual soul (Atman) with the universal soul (Brahman), teaching that the ultimate reality is not separate from us. It is within us, and recognizing this unity is the key to liberation.
Moral:
When we realize that we are not separate from the universe, but part of its divine essence, we achieve true peace, wisdom, and liberation. The realization of "Tat Tvam Asi" helps us transcend individual limitations and recognize our divine nature.
Prayer (Hindi):
तू है मेरा, मैं हूँ तेरा, हम सबमें एक ही धारा,
सृष्टि में हर रूप में तेरा ही है बसेरा।
हर कण में तू बसा है, हर रूप में तेरा असर,
तत् त्वम् असि, यही है जीवन का सबसे बड़ा मंत्र।
Bhajan
तत् त्वम् असि, तू है सच्चा ब्रह्म, मैं वही हूँ,
तेरी शक्ति में बसा है हर रूप, मैं भी वही हूँ।
आकाश में, पृथ्वी में, जल में बसा तू,
सबमें समाया है तेरा रूप, यही है सच्चा तू।
तत् त्वम् असि, तू है मेरा आधार,
तेरे रूप में बसा है अनंत प्यार।
तत् त्वम् असि, यह सत्य है साक्षात,
हम सबमें बसी है एक दिव्य बात।
