The 'Self'

 We often use the word 'self' with reference to 'one's own', say for instance, 'I myself'. Here the syllable 'I' and 'my' are Pronouns that stand for a Noun. I or 'aham' (Samsk.) stands for the 'Self', the Atman (Soul). So far, it is very difficult to explain the concept of the 'Soul', the Atman. The learned sages are of the opinion that 'Atman' is a subject matter that lies beyond any discussion, inquiry, or explanation. We cannot know what is 'Atman' since it is a subtler aspect and is the 'Knower'. Further, the Atman knows everything. It is 'vid', vedavit,  the Veda (Knoweedge), as well as the 'vedyam' (to be known). How can the Knower (Subject), the Object to be known, and the means of knowledge be distinguished when all these are one only? This is like a hungry person looking at a fruit and eating it. Once the fruit is eaten, there is neither the fruit, nor the hunger and the hungry person! everything disappears! This is so simple as the Atman, the Knower, Who Knows All, and all Knowledge in Him. He is Brahmn. Atman is brahmn. The Veda declares that Atma eva brahmn. Thus, one who has realized the Atman, an 'Atmajnyani', needs nothing. Bhagavan Shree Krishna emphatically says, I Am the One to be Known. I Am Everything. I Am in everything. All that exists are My Self only. So our Soul (Atman) is none is but He, the Paramatman. We are al gross, embodies aspect of the subtler aspect of 'brahmn'. So the great Sages said, aham brahmasmi. However, one should not think the body, the mind, the senses, etc are all mere accessories and not the 'Self'. The Self is subtler aspect of the Spiritual that has woven a gross body like a silkworm weaving a cocoon out of its own saliva. The gross body is subject to deterioration, destruction and disintegration. But the Soul, the Atman is unborn, eternal, and immortal. It is clearly stated in the Gita that "nainam chindanti shastraani, nainam dahati paavakah..." 

  One who realizes the fact that "the physical body is of no consequence and what all matters is the knowledge of the self, the Atman" is a real jnyani. Such realized persons easily cross the ocean of sansar.