What is Self-realization (Atma-jnana)?
Have you ever asked yourself the question, ‘Who Am I?’ Normally, you are aware of yourself as being limited to only your body, mind and intellect. You identify with this ‘outer self ’ because all your activities are performed through your body, mind and intellect. You use words like ‘I did,’ ‘I thought,’ ‘I decided,’ without ever stopping to ask the question ‘Who really am I?’ Actually, the body, mind and intellect are only instruments through which actions are performed. They can function only due to the presence of the Self. The realization that I am nothing but the Self and total identification with this Self is Self-realization. In other words, the realization that I am separate or detached from my body, mind and intellect and that I am one with the all-pervading Divinity is Self-realization.
