About this Video

• Video Title: Swami Sarvapriyananda at IITK - "Who Am I?" according to Mandukya Upanishad-Part 1
• Channel: Vivekananda Samiti, IIT Kanpur
• Speakers: Swami Sarvapriyananda
• Duration: 01:27:07

Introduction

This video features Swami Sarvapriyananda lecturing at IIT Kanpur on the ancient question, "Who am I?" He explores this question through the lens of the Mandukya Upanishad, focusing on its central mantra to reveal the true nature of self.

Key Takeaways

• The Mandukya Upanishad: This short Upanishad, considered one of the most challenging, offers a profound answer to the question of self-identity. It's considered sufficient for achieving liberation (moksha) by those seeking spiritual enlightenment.
• Four States of Consciousness: The lecture explains the four states of consciousness: waking (jagrat), dreaming (swapna), deep sleep (sushupti), and the fourth (turiya). The first three are considered unreal or temporary manifestations of the true self.
• The True Self (Turiya): The true self is identified as the unchanging consciousness that witnesses the other three states. It's described as beyond the limitations of the physical, mental, and even the blankness of deep sleep. It is the ultimate reality, the witness, and the illuminator.
• The Nature of Reality: The lecture uses analogies (like gold in ornaments) to explain how the true self is the underlying reality that manifests in different forms (waking, dreaming, sleeping). This true self is one with everything.
• Spiritualization of Everyday Life: The lecture concludes by emphasizing Swami Vivekananda's message: the path to spiritual realization is not through escaping the world but through spiritualizing everyday life.