Epilogue
The reason for publishing this website titled “The True I” is that, when we look at the world inhabited by humans on this celestial Earth, we find ourselves living amidst chaos, confusion, and hardship—manifested as discrimination, division, blame, crime, conflict, and war. This unhappiness among humans continues endlessly, enveloping the entire Earth.
Furthermore, we fail to recognize how much suffering our actions impose on the non-human creatures living on this planet and even on the celestial Earth itself, which serves as humanity’s home. The root cause of this is our ignorance of our true existence. Moreover, there is the reality that we are not even aware of this ignorance.
Realizing that we do not know our true existence is the first step toward experiencing and recognizing the true I. If we can understand what the true I is, we will not only live as authentic human beings but also enable all creatures whose survival is threatened by human-induced changes to the natural environment—and even the celestial Earth—to enjoy peace.
We believe the world we perceive as “differences ” to be reality. However, this perception of differences is an illusion. Yet, even when told this, it is extremely difficult to comprehend that it is indeed an illusion. Why? Because only after experiencing and recognizing the true existence of the “I ” can we understand that perceiving differences was an illusion.
How, then, can one experience and recognize the true I? It is clear that we must change the way we have lived until now, starting from this moment, today.
Bhagavan Sri Sathya Sai Baba, through numerous discourses based on Vedanta (Upanishads) and the Bhagavad Gita, teaches us what the essence of humanity is and provides guidance and methods for realizing the true I. He has said, “What is most necessary for humans? What is the most important thing humans must know? It is to recognize one’s true existence and reach the ultimate reality. To experience the Atma as the absolute reality, it is essential to control of the senses, eliminate attachment to the body, and live truthfully.”
The world of phenomena that appears in the universe—why does it exist? “Why does the sun rise and set every day, neither delaying nor bursting? Why do the stars, which sparkle in the sky to delight everyone, hide their glittering faces at dawn and refrain from even faintly revealing their presence? Why is air constantly around us, enabling us to breathe and sustain life? Why do streams and rivers, while roaring, murmuring, laughing, and gossiping about rocks, pebbles, and sand, meander toward their parent, the sea? How is it that the billions of humans who make up humanity are treasure chests preserving identical copies of the same being, yet each has completely different appearances, accomplishments, aspirations, and attitudes? Here is the answer: Know that I am the one who has determined that these gems should be as they are and behave as they do.” (From Bhagavan Sri Sathya Sai Baba’s discourse in Sathyam Shivam Sundaram)
The heart, once it begins to beat in the mother’s womb, continues tirelessly until death. But what is the function that keeps it beating? The lungs perform gas exchange by taking in oxygen and expelling carbon dioxide through the alveoli. This function removes carbon dioxide from the blood and supplies it with oxygen, but who recognizes these gases and why does this process occur? Once the tongue has tasted food, it passes through the esophagus and enters the stomach. Yet we do not know how food is broken down and digested after passing the throat and entering the stomach. Why do sensory organs—sight, hearing, smell, taste, touch, pain, temperature, vibration—function, and who makes them work? The truth is, we do not understand our body and its functions. Even when we introspect deeply about our body, our brain cannot fully grasp the intricate workings that maintain its normal state.
Not understanding the phenomena occurring in the body, how can we experience and recognize the true I? Bhagavan Sri Sathya Sai Baba has taught, “Sense control, elimination of physical attachments, and living in truth are essential. “
Among these, diet is of utmost importance for controlling the senses. The food we eat shapes our body. To maintain a healthy body, we must focus not on the taste of food but on its purity and nutritional value. Taste is secondary; the primary purpose of taste is to avoid ingesting toxins or harmful substances. We must guard against the temptations of taste, choose fresh and pure ingredients, and be mindful of cooking methods to preserve vitamins and minerals. Particular care should be taken to consume Omega-3 fatty acids, which are prone to deficiency.
Detachment from the body means controlling the strength of the tendency created by the mind’s emotion of “mine. ” It requires understanding that the fruits of actions belong to the doer.
Living in truth are essential means observing the world and realizing that no two things are the same. Today, the world population is said to be approximately 8 billion, yet no two people share the same appearance or form. Each individual is unique. This uniqueness signifies that a singular existence is manifesting in myriad forms. All existence is an expression of the Creator. Living with this awareness daily, we may not fully comprehend all phenomena, but it is crucial for discerning the truth.
Human beings are just one form of existence among the many in this universe. Similarly, all existences are unique beings in their own right. We must approach all beings with love and maintain a sense of equality without discrimination. Although their forms and characteristics differ, every being is essential to nature and embodies the same singular existence at its core. If this existence did not reside in the body, the body could not exist as a living entity.
By constantly being aware of this existence within ourselves and living a pure life, bliss will suddenly arrive. In that moment, the answer to why we were born as human beings will become clear.
2024.11.20 Author : Hiroaki Oshida
translator：Makoto Ishii
If I hadn’t suffered a spinal cord injury in August 1989, I might never have experienced the desire―the need―to understand who I am and what kind of being I am. At the time, due to the severity of the injury, I thought, “This might be the end. Death is near.” In such a moment, I found myself in an extraordinary psychological state, far from what one would normally experience.
Though my mind was under immense pressure, I had the clarity to calmly contemplate death and the capacity to observe the various memories that surfaced. The thought, “I don’t know who I am,” emerged from the depths of my consciousness, like a deeply buried memory rising to the surface in that critical moment.
From that point on, I began to earnestly pursue the question: What is the nature of this existence I call “myself”?
Translator：Makoto Ishii