“What is Self-realization? It is giving up the pretension that you are not the Self, that you are a mere body. People say to me, 'You are God Himself.' I reply, 'You are also He.' 'We are not He'-they rejoin. What else is this, but that they simulate and, for some lila of their own, hide behind a mask their real and divine nature?” SelfGodSelf RealizationOnenessDivinityDivine NatureDivinity Within Book:The Essential Swami Ramdas Source: The Essential Swami Ramdas
“Student: How does Self-realization of an individual help society? Ramdas: By Self-realization you become happy inwardly and therefore seek nothing from outside. So, your activities flow out only for the uplift and good of others. A man who is discontented within seeks for external things in order to get happiness, and so doing, harms society. He thinks he will get happiness from external objects. When you have found true happiness by realizing the Self, that is, by realizing that your true nature is absolute peace and bliss, you are not in conflict with anybody, your vision is equal and your activities turn to the service of everyone. Then it is that you become the true instrument of God.” SelfGodHappinessPeaceSelf RealizationBliss Book:The Essential Swami Ramdas Source: The Essential Swami Ramdas