It may be asked, what exactly is the urgency to understand the meaning of this 'I', when there is an infinite number of topics that call for study in the Universe? One can well try to unravel the secrets of the Cosmos. Or, attention may be paid to understand what is meant by 'jivi', or, by 'deva' (God). When such profound subjects as the Universe, the Individualised Divine, the Divine itself - subjects that are incomparably important - are clamouring for attention, why give them up and investigate the meaning of expression used by common folk and children, this 'I', 'I'? Of what benefit can it be? People may ask.

The expression is simple, of course; but, its implications are infinite, and fundamentally satisfying. This is the reason why all great teachers exhort the seekers, "Know Thyself", "Inquire into yourself, that alone can give you release". The Sastras too confirm this exhortation. "Yad Vijnaanena sarvam vijnaatham bhavathi - That, which when known, everything becomes known". The Sastras extol the importance and value of this inquiry, and make it clear that the inquiry into the Atma is essential. The assurance is given that the Atma is you, yourself, as in the sacred axiom, "Thath thwam asi - That thou art."

Therefore, to fulfil the yearning, you have first to inquire into this mystery, who you are. You can then realise that you are nitya, eternal, beyond the boundaries of Time. The Sastras will help you to cast away the Ajnana, the dark clouds of ignorance that now hide this Truth from your awareness. Then, you can delight at the experience of the awareness of your genuine Nature. The awareness comes when the Truth is revealed with the dawn of light. But, the Sastras which guide man into the knowledge of these great mysteries and into the region where such bliss can be secured are not studied now; instead, man pursues with blinkered eyes his own silly notions. How then can he attain the Atmic Principle? How then can he reach the very embodiment of Ananda?