Aham Brahmasmi
One day, idly, I asked God ,“What are you, beyond your name”
SHe smiled at me gently and said, “You ‘n I are quite the same”
I looked at myself in the mirror and I couldn’t understand
SHe is perfect, formless, divine, while I am just a man
SHe laughed and said, “’Listen carefully, for this is certainly true
I am perfect, formless, divine and, so, indeed, are you”
“Your mirror shows the surface, weaving tales of its own
You’re sure these are true & the real Self stays unknown”
“The eyes of your ego are always there, eager to believe
All are One but your ego is always eager to cleave”
“Beyond the mirror you will find who you really are
Your ageing body & fickle mind will then be very far”
“Your ego too won’t be there, with its power and pelf
Here you’ll only find, your pure, unadorned Self”
Now I only visit the mirror
Radiant in my heart
In it, with wonder, I can’t tell,
God and my Self apart
Kishore Asthana
kishore.asthana@gmail.com