Sir,

I read with interest the article ‘Salutations to two Acharyas‘ by Prof. A.V. Narasimha Murthy in SOM dated May 19.

Writing on Shankara’s philosophy, he says ‘Aham Brahmasmi means I am the Brahmin which means everyone in the world is a Jeevatma (Living human  being) while Paramatma (Almighty) is the Brahman’. Actually this is not the meaning intended by Adi Shankara as found in his works. Read together with another Veda Vakya ‘Tat Twam Asi’,  it means that ‘I am Brahman, You are Brahman’. But it should not be mistaken as false ego. What it means is everyone and everything is that same Brahman because God not only created the world but entered it according Aitareya Upanishat. So He is present in every object — both animate and inanimate. This is the real meaning of Advaita and following this we have to respect every creation of God and we are responsible for our actions — not a separate God.

– Dr. C.S. Srinivasan, Ramakrishnanagar, 20.5.2019

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