The godly principle

Sri Nisargadatta Maharaj:

The fragrance or the sweetness of the food-essence body is the knowledge "I am". It has no name and form. It is the "I love" state, the "I"-taste. But from your body-mind state you will go to pilgrimages and various gurus. So long as the consciousness is there, that humming goes on, and who does the humming? The principle which is humming, and saying "I am, I am" is itself your guru.

If you imbibe what I say and understand this guru, the consciousness, and dwell there, you will be self-realized. Then no more rituals, disciplines and spirituality are necessary. Is it clear now to you what is termed "guru"? It is the sense of "I-am-ness".

In the devotional approach, worship is prescribed. In the ritual, prasadam is prepared first, which is a food offering to the deity being worshipped. Before invoking the deity by ringing a bell the prasadam must be kept ready because God is dependent on food and the God is no one else but the consciousness, which depends on food.

Whenever food of the right quality and in the proper form is available and when the vital breath functions in it, the "I-am-ness" principle manifests itself through it. This "I-am-ness" is the Bhagavan - the godly principle.