I am the Self, I am the body... I am the totality 

Introduction:

Maharishi Mahesh Yogi emphasized Aham Brahmasmi—“I am Totality”—as a core realization of one’s true nature, aligning with the Vedic principle that the individual self (Ātman, Sanskrit: आत्मन्) is non-different from the universal reality (Brahman). He taught that this identity transcends the physical, mental, and even cosmic levels: “I am the Self, I am the body, I am the Veda, I am the universe, I am the totality.”
This state of awareness, rooted in silence and pure consciousness, is the foundation of his Transcendental Meditation technique and the vision of a peaceful, unified world.

I am the Self, I am the body, I am the Veda, I am the universe, I am Totality (Video with French subtitles VOST)

Partial Transcription:

Dr. Hagelin: At the basis of Vedic Medicine¹ lies the discovery by His Majesty Raja Raam that Vedic sounds create both the cosmic body and the human body—creating, for example, both the sun and the solar system, and the structure corresponding to the solar system within the human brain.

What is the significance of this cosmic and human correlation, and how is this information used to treat disease?

Maharishi: The nature of life is not merely individual, nor is it merely cosmic. It extends from the unmanifest to the manifest. All of this is of the nature of *Atma*². That is why knowledge of the *Atma* connects the individual to his cosmic potential.

Certain citations from Vedic knowledge express themselves in these very terms: "Aham Brahmasmi": I am Totality; "Aham Vishvam": I am the Universe; "Aham Veda": I am the Veda³ (the Veda refers to total knowledge—the structure of total knowledge).

Thus: "Atma Aham" (I am the Self); "Aham Shariram" (I am the Body); "Aham Veda" (I am the Veda). This—I am. And furthermore: "Aham Vishvam" (I am the Universe). And when I am all these things, then I am Totality. I am Totality.

Thus, this is our very nature! It is simply that we were never told. Whether by our parents, our friends, society, or our teachers—we were never told that this was our heritage.

And now, we are opening schools all over the world to tell everyone that every human being is a vast field of living possibilities.

We were never told that this was our heritage.

And now, we are opening schools all over the world to tell everyone that every human being is a vast field of living possibilities.

And consequently, there is no need to settle for small things.

Aim high! Bring your consciousness to that cosmic intelligence [active at the quietest level of your consciousness].

And from there, cosmic creativity will nourish your thoughts, your desires, your words, your behavior—all your endeavors. This is a very beautiful thing. It is a great joy—a great joy.

Let us establish these campuses for total knowledge—for complete knowledge. Let us build educational institutions, and very soon we should be able to bless the entire world.

 

Notes:

¹ Vedic medicine, or Maharishi Ayur-Veda, places consciousness at the center of the balance necessary for a healthy life and explains how consciousness is expressed in nature and in human physiology. Free Online Medical Dictionary, Thesaurus and Encyclopedia (Mosby's Dictionary of Complementary and Alternative Medicine. (c) 2005, Elsevier) & University of Maryland Medical Center

² In Sanskrit, *Atma* refers to the life principle, the soul, "the Self," or the Universal Soul—the immutable essence of being.

Sanskrit Heritage Dictionary

 

³Veda in Sanskrit designates the “knowledge” revealed by the Rishis. A glossary of Sanskrit terms