Atma bodha

Atma bodha is a Sanskrit phrase that means "self-knowledge." It refers to the process of gaining understanding and awareness of one's own true nature, which is said to be eternal and unchanging.

Imagine that you are playing with your toys, and suddenly you notice a special toy that you've never seen before. You might ask yourself, "Who gave me this toy?" or "What is it for?" This is similar to the idea of atma bodha, which is about asking questions to understand yourself better.

Atma bodha teaches us that our true nature is not just our body, our thoughts, or our feelings. Instead, it is something deep inside of us that never changes, no matter what happens. This true nature is sometimes called the "self" or the "soul" or the "innermost being."

Think of it like a doll - you can take off its clothes and change them, but no matter what you do to the doll, it will still be the same doll. Similarly, our true nature remains the same even when our bodies or minds change.

To understand atma bodha, we need to pay attention to ourselves and our experiences. We need to ask questions like "Who am I?" or "What am I feeling?" and then try to answer them honestly. We can also learn from teachers or gurus who have already gone through this process themselves.

By practicing atma bodha, we can gain a deeper understanding of ourselves and our place in the world. It can bring us peace, happiness, and a sense of purpose in life. Just like when you figure out how to play with a new toy, understanding ourselves better can be a lot of fun!