Me, Myself and I

 Spending time with "Me and Myself"

While studying and reading the Bhagavad Gita, I noticed the following emphasis:

Controlling and regulating the senses to achieve inner peace and self-realization

- Detaching from sense objects to reduce desires and attachment

- Mastering the senses through self-awareness and self-control

- Overcoming sensory attachments for spiritual growth.

To attain spiritual development and self-realization, one must manage the senses. The Bhagavad Gita contains various shlokas (verses) emphasizing the need to control and manage desires. Here are some prominent ones:

-Control over senses (Verse 3.41): Krishna advises Arjuna to control his senses like a charioteer controls horses.

-Sense detachment (Verse 2.58): Detach yourself from sense objects, like a tortoise withdraws its limbs.

-Sense regulation (Verse 5.27-28): Regulate your senses, like a yogi, to achieve inner peace.

-Sense mastery (Verse 4.26): Master your senses through self-control and self-awareness.

-Sense transcendence (Verse 14.24): Transcend sense attachments and desires to achieve spiritual growth.

-Chapter 5, Verse 23: "The one who can withstand desire and anger, and control the senses, is eligible to attain  Brahman."

 Shlokas like these emphasize the importance of mastering the senses and desires to achieve inner calm, self-realization, and ultimately Brahman.

Sanatan Dharma refers to karma as the consequence of an action. Sanskara refers to the impressions or habits formed by these actions, shaping an individual's personality and destiny. To understand myself, I considered the following:

1. Self-reflection: Examining my thoughts, words, and actions and recognizing patterns and habits formed by my sanskaras.

2. Karma assessment: evaluating my karma by considering the consequences of my actions. Have they led to personal growth, harmony, or suffering?

3. Sanskara transformation: I am working on transforming negative sanskaras by cultivating positive habits and actions, leading to personal growth and self-improvement.

4. Self-realization: Through this process, I should gain a deeper understanding of myself, my values, and my purpose.

5. Liberation: Ultimately, the goal is to transcend the cycle of karma and sanskaras, achieving liberation (Moksha) and realizing my true nature.

To create a mindset that helps me further my aims, I have defined the distinction between "Me" and "Myself."

"Me and Myself" represents the connection between my inner self and outer persona, embracing my uniqueness and solitude. Spiritually, I see ‘Me’ as consciousness, and ‘Myself’ as the one who interacts with the five senses.

The five senses often exhibit contradictory behavior concerning "Myself," leading me to categorize them into three distinct groups:

1. Senses of Desire: Sense gratification involves engaging in activities to please the senses, fulfilling desires and impulses for personal satisfaction.

2. Knowledge-Acquiring Senses: The five senses gather environmental data, enabling the brain to interpret, learn, and derive knowledge through experience.

3. Working senses: The five working senses, voice, hands, legs, genitals, and anus, coordinate to perform actions and interact with the environment.

The mind, as the "sense within," processes and integrates information from these senses, enabling thought and consciousness.

The Tattva system of Sanatan Dharma and the Bhagavad Gita illuminate the role of the senses in human experience. By distinguishing between "Me" (consciousness) and "Myself" (the controller of the senses), I recognize the importance of balancing these two aspects. Mastering my desires and senses enables me to find joy in solo activities and cultivate self-sufficiency.

I've also identified three essential companions in life:

Health: Physical and mental well-being; Balance pleasure and pain by practicing mindfulness and self-care. Recognize that physical health is temporary and prioritize mental and emotional well-being.

Wealth: Material resources; understand the limitations of material wealth in fulfilling desires.

Human Relationships: Connections with others; Navigating love and hate by fostering empathy, compassion, and understanding. Accept that relationships are temporary and prioritize self-love and self-acceptance.

As I reflect on my inner thoughts about "Me and Myself," my goals are to deepen my understanding of what truly matters in life, like health, wealth, and relationships; to develop a strong and balanced mindset for handling life's challenges; and to focus on personal growth and self-awareness, accepting that external things don't last forever.

I can nurture a deeper relationship with myself by recognizing my inner thoughts and awareness as my companions. This inner harmony will help me find balance in all areas of life, leading to a more fulfilling and meaningful journey.

Aging

Aging is a journey of self-discovery, growth, and transformation. Embracing my individuality and solitude allows me to deepen my understanding of myself and the world. As I age, I face challenges like adapting to declining senses, finding passion within, building resilience, and rearranging, especially when I am financially secure and healthy. Meditation, self-awareness, and personal growth can lead to a fulfilling life as I age

Aging is a natural part of life, and it’s never too late to rediscover what truly matters. In this phase, I want to reassess the value of health by focusing on maintaining well-being rather than seeking perfection, by redefining wealth to include knowledge, love, personal growth, and spiritual richness, and by nurturing human relationships with meaningful connections that would bring joy and support.

By embarking on this path, I expect to match my desires with the senses resulting in a more peaceful and purposeful life that cares for ' myself' as the one in control of my five senses.

I see "Me" as consciousness or Sat-chit-Ananda

Sat-chit-Ananda is a Sanskrit term in Hindu and yogic philosophy that describes the true nature of reality as "existence, consciousness, and bliss." It refers to the ultimate, unchanging reality known as Brahman. In Hinduism, "sat" means existence; "chit" is consciousness; while "Ananda" means bliss, the absence of suffering. Unlike momentary happiness tied to external objects, Ananda is a profound, inner ecstasy. This bliss is not dependent on the material world but is a deep, spiritual joy experienced within, often shared between a guru and disciple, and the meditating Yogi.

 Note that bliss (Ananda) and happiness have different implications.

Happiness (Ananda) is:

Happiness is a mindset born from sensory moments, integrating information from the 5 senses (sight, sound, touch, taste, smell) and the mind, the "sense within," processing and interpreting sensory data.

By recognizing how the senses and mind work together to create happiness, I've understood the connection between external experiences and internal perception. This insight emphasizes the value of mindfulness in appreciating moments that bring joy. My exploration of 'Me and Myself' has deepened my understanding of happiness as a balance between the senses, the mind, and the world around me. This knowledge will guide me on my path to self-discovery and fulfillment.

If 'Me and Myself' is consistent with my search for defining divinity as Sat-chit-Ananda, it will provide a timeless and enduring understanding of the study and practice of the Bhagavad Gita.

The Bhagavad Gita teaches that controlling the senses is crucial for spiritual growth, self-realization, and inner peace. By practicing self-control, detachment, and mindfulness, one can master their senses and achieve a higher state of consciousness.

 

As a student of both the Ashtavakra Gita and the Bhagavad Gita, I find the abstract teachings of Advaita in the Ashtavakra Gita difficult to apply to daily social life. The Bhagavad Gita, however, offers a value system that supports my role in Grihastha Jeevan (householder life) while still pointing to higher wisdom. The experience helped me successfully manage life's dualities and gain a better understanding of myself. As a result, I turned to the Bhagavad Gita to interpret and practice Advaita Vedanta."A conflicted and confused mind represents the core message of the Bhagavad Gita, which attempts to emphasize the restless character of human awareness and its journey through life's duality.

 

The Spiritual Dilemma of I, Me, and Myself: A Journey Toward Self-Mastery

The Triad: Ego, Awareness, and the Persona

In the age-old quest for self-understanding, the trinity of I, Me, and Myself presents not only a psychological challenge but also a spiritual dilemma. The Bhagavad Gita teaches us that this triad signifies the subtle distinctions between ego, awareness, and physical nature, which influence our experience of the world.

The first to be investigated is the 'I', which openly affirms, “I am the doer, I know, I want.” It is the voice of ego (ahamkara), often mistaken for the true self. This ‘I’ clings to identity, possessions, and achievements. It is born from the illusion of separateness, feeding on comparison and duality. In Chapter 3 of the Gita, Krishna reveals the flaw in this identification: “The modes of nature perform all actions, but the one deluded by ego thinks, ‘I am the doer.’” This false 'I' is the first veil the seeker must see through.

Then comes 'Me', a subtle presence. It does not assert, but it witnesses. As the mind fluctuates, it observes the desires of the ego. Life's drama is not entangled with the 'Me', which remains silent, unknown, untouched, and formless. A realization of this 'Me' corresponds to a realization of the pure consciousness that the Gita points to when it describes the Self as "unborn, eternal, ever-existing, undying." In awakening to this non-duality, there is no longer a separation between observer and observed.

Lastly, we confront 'MYSELF', the layered construct of personality, emotion, memory, and sense-driven impulses. This is the one that acts, reacts, and is continually shaped by experience. 'Myself' is not inherently false, but it is unreliable unless refined through spiritual practice. The Gita emphasizes this in Chapter 6: “Let a man lift himself by himself; let him not degrade himself." For the self alone is the friend of the self, and the self alone is the enemy of the self.” This inner struggle with 'Myself' defines the battlefield of spiritual growth.

The dilemma arises when these three voices clash within, and the ego ‘I’ demands control. The reflective ‘Myself’ oscillates between pleasure and pain. The silent ‘Me’ waits to be recognized. Unless brought into harmony, these conflicting forces generate confusion, attachment, and suffering.

Yet, the Gita offers a path—through self-discipline, sense-restraint, devotion, and knowledge, the ego dissolves, the personality aligns with awareness, and the true Self shines. When ‘Me and Myself’ are united in truth (Sat-Chit-Ananda), the false ‘I’ no longer dominates. What remains is clarity, peace, and a deep stillness that does not seek but simply abides.

This is not simply philosophy; it is a practice of inner healing, a reorientation of the inner world. And the journey begins with one essential question.

Which one am I: the one who acts, the one who watches, or the one who is?

The Chariot of the Self: Aligning the Inner Forces

The Gita's teaching lineage, particularly mirroring the Katha Upanishad and reverberating in Chapter 3, compares life to a chariot and the self to a charioteer. This metaphor provides a striking map of the inner dynamics of I, Me, and Myself:

· The Chariot represents the body, which serves as our mode of transportation in this world.

· The Horses: Represent the five senses, wild and powerful, easily drawn to pleasure or distracted by pain.

· The Reins: Represent the mind (manas), which needs to manage and direct the senses.

· The Charioteer: Is the intellect (buddhi), the faculty of discrimination, decision, and direction.

· The Passenger: Is the true Self (Me, or Chit), the silent witness, detached from action, yet present within.

When the chariot (the body) is guided by untrained horses (senses), and the reins (mind) are loose or tangled, the charioteer (intellect) is confused, and the passenger (consciousness) remains unseen. This is the condition of the unawakened self, ‘Myself’ dominates, and ‘I’ claims authorship, while ‘Me’ is ignored.

But when the mind is trained, the senses restrained, and the intellect sharpened by reflection, discipline, and devotion, the chariot moves in harmony. Here, the charioteer listens to the silent Self. The journey shifts from mere instinct to meaningful purpose

In this model,

· ‘I’ is the illusion that the charioteer is the master, not the Self.

· ‘Myself’ is the vehicle, horses, and reins, the acting, sensing, and reacting self.

· ‘Me’ is a silent, serene passenger awaiting realization.

The Field and the Knower: Shifting from Identification to Awareness

In Chapter 13, Krishna introduces another powerful distinction:

“This body, O Arjuna, is called the field (Kshetra); and he who knows it is called the knower of the field (Kshetrajna) by the wise.”

Here, the field is the domain of change, and Myself, comprising thoughts, emotions, actions, and the body. It is subject to gunas, karma, desire, and decay. But the knower is Me, and consciousness is the awareness of the body, mind, and ego.

The ego or 'I' mistakenly claimed the field as its own. It says, “This is my body, my thoughts, and my identity.” But when spiritual insight dawns, the seeker realizes: I am not in the field, I am the knower. This shift, from identification with the changing to resting on the unchanging, marks the end of spiritual confusion.

So, in this metaphor,

‘Myself’ is the field, the ever-changing play of Prakriti (nature).

‘I’ is the claimant who says “I own this field” but lacks true knowledge.

'Me' is the knower, the seer behind the scenes, eternal and untouched.

Harmonizing into Sat-Chit-Ananda

When these metaphors are internalized, the seeker no longer struggles with roles. Instead, spiritual maturity begins to emerge.

· Sat (Truth/Being): No longer mistaken as the ego ‘I’, but recognized in the enduring nature of ‘Me’.

· Chit (Awareness): Realized as the silent knower, observing yet never entangled in action.

· Ananda (Bliss): Blossoms when ‘Myself’ is disciplined, the ego is quiet, and the senses are mastered, leading to stillness and clarity.

Self-mastery is not the elimination of personality or the senses, but their alignment with higher awareness. The Bhagavad Gita urges not repression, but transformation, where the Self becomes a friend to the Self, and the journey itself becomes divine.

Final Reflection: Living the Gita Within

The Gita’s metaphors are not just allegories; they are maps of the inner cosmos. They call us to recognize:

“I am not what I am doing. I am not even who I think I am. I am that which knows.”

This realization does not come through intellectual understanding alone, but through lived experience: in silence, restraint, surrender, and devotion. The chariot moves forward, the reins are held firm, the intellect is clear, and the Self, long obscured, shines.