Hemant Goswami

मैं बचपन से कुतुब मीनार जाता रहा हूँ, पर तीन वर्ष पूर्व की एक यात्रा ने मेरे भीतर गहरी हलचल पैदा की।

कुव्वत-उल-इस्लाम परिसर में मैंने छतों और स्तंभों पर लगी, खंडित देव, यक्ष और द्वारपाल की मूर्तियाँ देखीं। साथ ही अधूरी खुदाई में पड़े उन सत्ताइस तोड़े गए मंदिरों के अवशेष और टूटी हुई देव-प्रतिमाएँ भी मेरी दृष्टि में आईं।

यह सब देखकर मुझे पहली बार यह बोध हुआ कि स्कूल और बचपन में हमें कुतुब मीनार का इतिहास कितना अधूरा और चयनित रूप में पढ़ाया गया था। वहाँ खड़े होकर सच और मौन दोनों साथ दिखाई देते हैं।

ऐसा प्रतीत हुआ मानो कुछ ऐतिहासिक तथ्य इस भय से दबा दिए गए हों कि वे किसी को विचलित न कर दें।

उसी क्षण, वहीं बैठे-बैठे, मेरे मन से चार पंक्तियाँ अपनेआप निकल आईं। यह कविता उन्हीं पंक्तियों का विस्तार है। न आरोप के रूप में, न विरोध के स्वर में, बल्कि स्मृति, संवेदना और इतिहास के प्रति एक मौन प्रश्न के रूप में।

हेमन्त गोस्वामी

In his poem "Tat Tvam Asi," reflects on the journey from individuality to universality. A drop does not disappear when it merges and expands. The poem reminds us that identity dissolves, not to end, but to awaken. The self realizes it was always infinite and complete in all respect; etc.
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कविता तत् त्वम् असि में हेमन्त गोस्वामी व्यक्ति से समष्टि की यात्रा को अभिव्यक्त करते हैं। एक बूंद जब विलीन होती है, तो नष्ट नहीं होती वह विस्तार पाती है। यह कविता बताती है कि पहचान का लय अंत नहीं, बल्कि जागरण है। आत्मा समझती है कि वह सदा से ही अनंत थी।

#कविता #अद्वैत

A short philosophical scribbling by Hemant Goswami
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[AI GENERATED SUMMARY & GIST OF THE POEM BY HEMANT GOSWAMI]

1. Gist of the Poem:

The video features Hemant Goswami reciting his original poetic composition titled **" "** (I am Brahman).

It is a short, deeply evocative poem that describes the spiritual journey of human consciousness: starting as a tiny, isolated point curled up in darkness, then gradually expanding through ever-widening circles of identification; family, friends, society, community, nation (India), humanity, and finally the entire universe. As these circles grow infinitely large, their curvature vanishes, everything becomes one infinite straight line of peace, light, and boundless emptiness. All sense of separation ("I" vs. "you") dissolves, leaving only the profound realization: **Aham Brahmasmi** repeated like a mantra.

Goswami mentions that the poem is inspired by a 1902 lecture titled *"Expansion of Self"* delivered in California by his great-grandfather, Swami Rama Tirtha, a renowned Vedantin and mathematician.

2. Its Meaning

The poem uses the simple geometric metaphor of expanding circles to illustrate the growth of awareness and love:

- We begin life in ego-centric contraction: a tiny "point" of self, isolated and limited.
- Love and relationships teach us to widen our sense of self; first to family ("I" becomes "we"), then friends, society, city, state, nation, and all humanity.
- As identification keeps expanding, boundaries dissolve. When the circle of identification becomes infinitely large, it no longer feels curved; it becomes a straight line symbolizing boundless unity.
- At this stage, duality disappears: there is no "I" separate from "you" or from the universe. Only pure being, peace, light, and infinite awareness remain.
- The final realization is **Aham Brahmasmi** "I am Brahman" (the ultimate reality). The individual self recognizes itself as identical with the universal Self.

In essence, the poem says: **True spiritual liberation comes not by escaping the world, but by embracing it more and more fully until all distinctions vanish and only oneness remains.**

3. Philosophical Significance

The poem is a beautiful modern expression of ** ** (non-dual Vedanta), one of the most influential schools of Indian philosophy, primarily taught by Adi (8th century CE).

Key philosophical concepts it embodies:

**Aham Brahmasmi** is one of the four great Mahavakyas (great sayings) from the Upanishads (ancient Vedic texts). It declares the identity of the individual soul (Atman) with the ultimate reality (Brahman).
**Expansion of consciousness** as the path to liberation: Unlike some traditions that advocate withdrawal from the world, this approach (also seen in Swami Rama Tirtha’s teachings and later in Ramana Maharshi and Nisargadatta Maharaj) shows that genuine non-duality is reached by inclusive expansion rather than exclusion.
- Dissolution of duality: The geometric metaphor brilliantly illustrates how apparent separation is only a matter of limited perspective. When consciousness expands infinitely, the illusion of separateness (maya) disappears.
- Practical spirituality: The poem suggests that everyday love — for family, community, nation, and humanity — is not an obstacle to enlightenment but the very vehicle for it. Social service, patriotism, and universal love become natural expressions of growing spiritual awareness.

In a divided world, the poem’s message is profoundly relevant: lasting peace and fulfillment come not from contracting into narrower identities, but from continually expanding our circle of concern until it encompasses all existence and then transcends even that into boundless oneness.

I have always admired Dr. Karan Singh, the last prince of Jammu and Kashmir, the first and only Regent and Sadr-e-Riyasat of the state, and above all a remarkable intellectual.

To meet him and exchange thoughts across diverse subjects was a rare privilege.

His life reflects a unique blend of politics, philosophy, and culture. A scholar of Advaita Vedanta; a statesman; and a patron of the arts; he embodies both India’s timeless wisdom and its modern democratic spirit.

To interact with him is to witness knowledge, eloquence, and vision at their finest.

Truly, a remarkable man!

जो छूट गया।