Atman (continued)

Aurangzeb said, “You Hindus are worshippers of the self, which you call the Atman.”

The boy said, “Let me speak to you a little of the Atman

“For countless ages Uma dwelt in the pavilions of holiness, beneath the canopy of God’s love and protection, her hem purified of worldly illusion, her face unseen by gods, men, or demons, Behind the realm of appearance and disappearance, she arose from her palace and all who saw her were intoxicated by her beauty, by the scent of her perfume, and by the sweetness of her voice. The devas knew she was the maidservant of God.

“One of the devas, Vayu, who is the god of wind and father of both Hanuman and Bhima, approached Uma and asked her about the nature of God. Uma did not answer but demanded to know what power Vayu possessed to dare ask this question. Vayu, who was very proud, said, “I am among the mightiest of the devas. I can blow away any object in the world, however far and for however long I please.”

“Uma placed a single grain of dry rice before Vayu and said, ‘Show me this great power.’ Vayu exerted every effort, but could not cause the rice to budge. Winds that could have torn the Himalayas from their roots did not cause that grain of rice even to tremble. Vayu gave up and was astounded, but before he could speak, Uma said, “You can understand as much of God’s nature as you can move this grain of rice. Your power is not yours, but His. You yourself are not yours, but you belong to Him.”

“Vayu knelt and pressed his fingers upon Uma’s feet. She raised her hand and said, ‘Go in peace. You may yet find Him in yourself, but only after being rid of yourself. Within you there is not room for you and Him together.’

“Who puts on filthy rags and imagines them a kingly robe? Who wars with his brother over the rotting corpse of a whore? Who places upon his head a crown of dung and calls himself king? Such is the man who knows nothing of Atman.

“Those who understand this will rise out of samsara and achieve release from the world and its temptations, its mad and shameful passions, its defilements and illusions.

“O king, what we call Atman is the divine within every man. We are made in His likeness. We are forged as cups of iron in the furnace of His love, filled with the wine of His essence. This is the likeness. We may know something of Him from within ourselves, as we may know something of the sun when it warms the body. From His vineyard, He pours forth liberally. Drink from the cup of yourself, not for the sake of the cup, but to taste that wine which is more precious to the believers than their own lifeblood.”