Meditation on the Four Mahavakyas [Great Teachings]
The four Mahavakyas or Great Teachings are aphorisms that contain the very essence of the Upanishads.
They are: Tat Tvam Asi: Thou Art That Ayam Atma Brahman: This Atman is Brahman Prajnanam Brahma: Consciousness is Brahman Aham Brahmasmi: I am Brahman
Each of the four mahavakyas can work as a powerful initiation.
Ideally, a mahavakya should be received directly from the mouth of an enlightened guru. When a guru gives this teaching to a disciple, he also transmits the spiritual energy to help the disciple understand, assimilate and express the truth of this teaching in his own life.
The power of these Truths is such that the very hearing can liberate us from suffering. For the disciple who is ready, the very shravana (listening) to the Truth) is enough. The Truth will be revealed in a flash. For others, continues manana (contemplation on the Truth) and nidhidhyaasana (living one's life in alignment with the Truth) will lead to the same experience.
Although the same method of listening, contemplation and expression are followed, the mahavakyas are techniques that awaken bhakti rather than yukti. These teachings point, not to the unreality of this changing world, but rather to the unchanging Truth of the Self.
Through these Great Teachings, the seeker meditates on, and ultimately realizes, the oneness of his inner Self (atman) and the all-pervading Supreme Self (Brahman).
In truth, since the Self is ever-present everywhere, it cannot and need not be achieved by any techniques or practices! All that is required is to remove the veil of ignorance from the eyes of the seeker.
The whole effort of Vedanta is only to help in removing this veil.
All spiritual paths, practices and techniques exist for this purpose alone.
Once the Truth is revealed, the seeker will see for himself, that at every step of his spiritual practice – when he was ignorant of the Self, when he was seeking the Self, and when he experiences the Self – at all times, he has always remained the Supreme, unchanging Self alone!
Meditation on the Great Teachings may not be easy for the seeker who is taking his first step on the spiritual path.
Here, these teachings have been presented in a very simple way, just to give an introduction to these great truths. Even so, it may be difficult to grasp their true meaning and contemplate on them.
That is why the guru traditionally imparts these teachings only to the mature few among his disciples.
So don't be disheartened if you are unable to fall in tune with these teachings right away.
Just store them in a corner of your heart and try to remember them whenever you can.
They will stay inside you and ripen into real understanding.