1367- [Philosophy] MAHAVAKYAS (The Great Utterances):

(via http://www.swamij.com/mahavakyas.htm)
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The Mahavakyas are the Great Sentences of Advaita Vedanta and Jnana Yoga, and are contained in the Upanishads. Maha is Great, and Vakyas are sentences, or utterances for contemplation.
They provide perspective and insights that tie the texts together in a cohesive whole. The contemplations on the Mahavakyas also blend well with the practices of yoga meditation, prayer, and mantra, which are companion practices in yoga. Contemplation on the Mahavakyas gradually reveals their truth in direct experience.
Gradually, one comes to understand and increasingly experience the deeper aspects of these Mahavakyas:

-*Brahman is real; the world is unreal.
-Brahman is one, without a second.
-Brahman is the supreme knowledge.
-That is what you are.
-Atman and brahman are the same.
-I am brahman.

(*BRAHMAN is often described as indescribable. For convenience sake, it is said that brahman is the nature of existence, consciousness, and bliss (sat chit ananda), though admitting that these words, too, are inadequate.The real meaning comes only in direct experience resulting from contemplation and yoga meditation.)

1. 'Brahma satyam jagan mithya'- Brahman is real; the world is unreal
(The absolute is real; the world is unreal or only relatively real)

2.'Ekam evadvitiyam brahma'- Brahman is one, without a second
(There is one absolute reality, without any secondary parts)

3. 'Prajnanam brahman'- Brahman is the supreme knowledge
(Knowing the absolute reality is the supreme knowledge)
(from Aitareya Upanishad of Rig Veda)

4.'Tat tvam asi '- That is what you are
(That absolute reality is the essence of what you really are)
(from Chandogya Upanishad of Sama Veda)

5.'Ayam atma brahma '- Atman and Brahman are the same
(The individual Self is one and the same with the absolute)
(from Mandukya Upanishad of Atharva Veda)

6.'Aham brahmasmi '- I am Brahman
(Who I really am, is that absolute reality.)
(from Brihadaranyaka Upanishad of Yajur Veda)

7.'Sarvam khalvidam brahma '- All of this is Brahman
(All of this, including me, is that absolute reality)

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