To Know The SELF

"To know or to study yourself is not merely to have knowledge of your gross body and other things associated with it.  That which gives you power, vigor, strength and the effulgence of life is something different.  Modern science calls it energy and the Ancient Sages called it the Self, or God.  In reality, it is there that your real existence lies.  That is the real "you".  To study yourself means to know that Self without which you have no existence, power or vigor.  But that is very subtle.  You cannot perceive it, but you can experience it.   As you go more and more into it, you will get the power to understand that Self. 

In the beginning one will not get real dhyana (meditation).  What we do in the beginning cannot be called real meditation as it is just a practice or exercise to attain the state of dhyana.  Even then, we will say that we are meditating.  Results will be gained if you try constantly.  Suppose we place a pot of water on the stove to cook rice.  If someone were to ask, "What are you dong?" we would say, "I am cooking rice."  In reality the rice is not being cooked, only the water is being boiled.  Even then, that is what we would say.  So even in the initial stages of dhyana we would say that we are meditating. (although it is actually the preparation needed for real meditation.)"
                         
                                   Dialogues With Mata Amritanandamayi:
                                                Awaken Children Vol. 2