TRUE SELF AND NAMASMARAN: DR. SHRINIWAS KASHALIKAR

Student:
Sir! What is true self?
Teacher:
When we refer to self; it usually embodies and connotes a mixture of instincts, feelings, thoughts and vision, associated with the metabolic reactions, hormonal interactions and effects of neurotransmitters. All these interact continuously with the environment (The environment may be internal or external. Further; it may be; physical, chemical, biological, psychological, social, cultural or political. When it is characterized by people in the process of realizing true self; it is called spiritual environment). Thus; self with specific characteristics is recognized as a person; and said to be born and dead; distinguishing it from the body. The biographies do not describe merely the body; of an individual; but describe in details all above!
An object with three dimensions has a beginning, an end, a form and an identity. The space, which occupies; the inside and outside of that object; has a beginning and end. It has a form and an identity related to the object which it occupies from within and from outside.

Further; the time, which occupies a beginning, existence and end of an object; has also the identity of that object! For example; the time characterizes a house; as a 50 year old house! The period has an identity. The time that occupies the birth, life and death of an individual also has an identity. We call it the life of an individual.

Further; an individual human consciousness is associated the matter, the interactions, the energies, and the space and time; occupying all these! with
Self is associated with all above and it has a distinct identity.

True self is beyond all that has been referred to above! It is inside as well as outside. Our final destination is this true self. At one time or another; every one inevitably gets dissolved in the true self. Here the separate identity is dissolved in the cosmic consciousness and we lose separate and shackling existence. This is God; described with either no attributes or infinite attributes!
Student:
How to identify this true self?
Teacher:
The true self is the final and supreme controller. Since it has no form, no characteristics and no attributes, by which we can identify Him! However; He has descended in the consciousness of few; as NAMA and enthralled them with His attraction (ARTA, JIJNYASU, ARTHARTHEE, and JNANEE), remembrance (NAMASMARAN), orientation (ANUSANDHAN) and merger (MOKSHA)! Following them is the way of identifying and merging with true self!