You Are That

What is our true identity? Who are we, really? Easwaran offers a short, powerful explanation of the famous Sanskrit spiritual formula, "Tat tvam asi", meaning "You are That": the infinite, immortal spirit at the core of human consciousness.

TRANSCRIPT

One of the great statements, called Mahavakyas in Sanskrit, that has reverberated down the centuries for thousands of years is tat tvam asi. There is a precision about this formula, as I call it, which is not philosophy, nor is it metaphysics, as I shall try to show in the course of this brief talk. Tat literally means 'that.' The infinite, immortal, immutable spirit that is at the core of human consciousness. It's called by a precise scientific name, Atman, the Self, which is closer to me than this body, which is nearer to me as the Sufis say than my jugular vein, which is dearer to me than my very life.

This is a formula like E equals MC squared, which can be verified by anyone who has the dedication, determination, and devotion, which is latent in us by virtue of being a human being. When Mahatma Gandhi says, "This is no tropical figment of the imagination," anyone who develops the same singleness of purpose and the same faith that he developed can verify, can realize for oneself, not after death, here, in this life. So, tat means that Supreme Reality which, as a great mystic of Kerala says, Shankara, is something from which words turn back frightened, which thoughts cannot reach. That is tat, regardless of country, religion, caste, sex, status.

The second word is tvam; is addressed to everyone, to Jim, to Tom, to Sumner, without exception. Tvam asi. And asi means, 'you are.' Whether you believe it or not, it does not matter. Whether you accept it or not, it does not matter. That is what you are.