Spirituality - Atma Gnana - FAQ

Atma Gnana is a very broad topic. We had a discussion on one day and one of my family friends helped me to understand the concept which can be summarized as below:

1. What is Atma Gnana?

It is knowledge of Atman(soul) that makes a person to live life with true happiness that is ever lasting

2. When can we say one has achieved Atma Gnana?

A person will have Atma Gnana when one attains a state of ever lasting true happiness (bliss) in every moment of the life.

3. Why some one has to gain Atma Gnana?

The Atma Gnana ends the cycle of re-births. According to the article Isavasya Upanisad (n.d) when somebody realizes his self (Atman) then his perception has reached the ultimate boundaries and there is nothing else to be reached. The whole universe becomes his Atman. And he looks at his atman everywhere. Since he does not have any interest, he is beyond the sorrow and happiness.

4. Can one who is leading a life of a Gruhasta (married life with kids) be eligible for Atma Gnana?

Yes.

5. How can one achieve Atma Gnana?

A person needs guidance from a true spiritual guru to achieve Atma Gnana. Every human being who is in the path of spirituality will meet a true spiritual guru (one who has already attained Atma Gnana) and gain knowledge to achieve Atma Gana.

6. How can one be ready to receive the Atma Gnana from the true Guru?

When one’s all negative deep-seated subconscious traits (vasanas) are nullified.

These are few ways to nullify negative vasanas:

1) By playing/acting the needed role at a given time/situation to perfection. The role can be son/daughter, husband/wife, father/mother, and friend/a fellow human being.
2) Having a Disciplined life
3) Implementing rules/knowledge of right action (Dharma Gnana)
4) Performing Dana or Charity. It can be in any form like money, food, physical service, being a good listener etc.
5) Doing sadhana with the body, mind and intellect (BMI). The sadhana helps in purifying thoughts and deeds of a human being. Three different ways of doing sadhana are pooja (ritual of praying god), Japam( chanting god's name), and chintana( meditation).

There is a lot of literature on knowledge of right action (dharma gnana). Almost all the religion’s teachings and books has knowledge of right action.

The article Heart and Soul (n.d) describes that the light and consciousness of the soul pass through every part of the whole body but most of the time soul resides in the heart. The article also mentions that every human being deep within themselves has infinite peace, light and bliss. In order to get infinitely more peace, light and bliss one has to meditate in the heart. The meditation in the mind gives limited peace, light and bliss.

Now the question is how to meditate in the heart and in the mind? I will try to find out and post in the new thread.

References:
1. Heart and Soul(n.d). http://www.srichinmoy.org/spirituality/concentration_meditation_contemplation/meditation/the_spiritual_heart/heart_and_soul

2. Isavasya Upanisad(n.d). http://www.shuklayajurveda.org/isavasya-upanishad.html?PHPSESSID=74b63a05ed824b5c56e40dcbe4e49263