The lecture was given on December 5, 2015, at the Vedanta Society of Northern California by Swami Tattwamayananda.
-Bird's eye view of the four Mahavakyas in the Upanishad is provided, with deep dive on first Mahavakya: "Tat Tvam Asi"
-Four Mahavakyas are: (1)Tat Tvam Asi, from Chandogya Upanishad in Sama Veda (2)Prajnanam Brahma, from Aitareya Upanishad in Rig Veda (3)Ayam Atma Brahma, from Mandukya Upanishad in Atharva Veda (4)Aham Brahma Asmi, from Brihadaranyaka Upanishad in Yajur Veda
-The statements tell us who we are and what the universal truth is. The four represent the four stages of evolution in the spiritual evolution of the seeker, starting with Tat Tvam Asi and culminating in Aham Brahma Asmi, which represent complete union with the whole spiritual universe.
-Tat Tvam Asi is updesa-vakya and Aham Brahma Asi is anubhuti-vakya.
-Story of Uddalaka and Shvetaketu is discussed. True learning makes one wise and humble. Information + knowledge = wisdom. In the process of teaching Shvetaketu, Uddalaka utters: "Tat Tvam Asi" and repeats it eight more times during his instructions
-Meaning of Tat Tvam Asi: "The essence of the whole creation, the one supreme reality, the Atman - resides in all of us. It is omnipresent, all-pervading and is our own inner Self. It is not far away". God is not a person who creates the world and sits outside – the whole of humanity is one spiritual family.
-Discussion on why Swami Vivekananda only taught from the Upanishads. In those days, there were fanatic beliefs and people were looking for a universal spiritual paradigm. Swamiji realized that every religion had some level of universal truth. By teaching them Vedanta, he could help people realize the essence of their religion.
-True religion has two elements: (1) it teaches universal, spiritual humanism and (2) it presents a scientific analysis of who we are
-Belief is not the foundation of true religion. Experience is.
-Discussion on how to interpret Mahavakyas. We cannot take the meaning literally. Rather the implied meaning has to be understood. "That thou art" - thou refers to the Atman within.
-What a student should do after listening to "Tat Tvam Asi" - contemplate on the meaning, meditate, begin to lead a pure life, do unselfish deeds. The student should go through a spiritual preparation, which makes him fit for the knowledge. Theoretical knowledge should culminate in experience, and this evolution is represented by the four Mahavakyas.
-Four stages of a spiritual seeker's evolution: (1) Rituals and prayers (2) Conviction in the truth (3) Glimpse of the higher truth (4) Experience of the truth