I am the servant of God, His son, His devotee

Paths of knowledge and devotion

 

A NEIGHBOUR: "Revered sir, what are the doctrines of Vedanta?"

 

MASTER: "The Vedantist says, 'I am He.' Brahman is real and the world illusory.  Even the 'I' is illusory.  Only the Supreme Brahman exists.

"But the 'I' cannot be got rid of.  Therefore it is good to have the feeling, 'I am the servant of God, His son, His devotee.'

"For the Kāli Yuga the path of bhakti is especially good.  One can realize God through bhakti too.  As long as one is conscious of the body, one is also conscious of objects.  Form, taste, smell, sound, and touch-these are the objects.  It is extremely difficult to get rid of the consciousness of objects.  And one cannot realize 'I am He' as long as one is aware of objects.

"The sannyasi is very little conscious of worldly objects.  But the householder is always engrossed in them.  Therefore it is good for him to feel, 'I am the servant of God.'"