The Secret Doctrine of Goddess Lalita
(Sri LalitaAṣṭottara Rahasyārthamu)
47: jñānavigrahā 48.ātmā
She who is the embodiment of Knowledge.
She who is the Self in all.
Hence, śakti manifests as the conglomeration of different parts that we call our body. We perceive the body as an object. An object is that which is known to a knower. In reality, however, the body is not an object. It is Knowledge itself! When everything is pervaded by Devī, who is pure Knowledge or Awareness, how can there be forms or objects that are separate from Her? If She has a form, that form can only be Awareness. A form that is not a form. Awareness is formless. Awareness pervades the entire body and mind. If there is no touch of Awareness, there is no experience. If a thorn is stuck in our foot, we feel the pain all the way in our head. It does not stop at our foot. Without Awareness, we would not even be aware or experience the fact that we have a foot. Without Awareness, we would not be aware of the world outside. Because our Awareness expands and pervades the Sun, we are aware of the Sun. Therefore, for an object to exist or for us to know that it exists, Consciousness must first be present.
Another name for this Knowledge, Awareness, or Consciousness is ātmā. That which is expansive is ātmā. ātmā pervades the entire world (objects), cognizes the world as the Self (subject), dissolves the world completely in Itself, and continues in its formless nature as the Universal Consciousness. Therefore, ātmā is the object (known), the subject (knower of the object), and the Self in all. It is the experience or awareness that “I Am.” Just as It is aware of Its own existence (Self), ātmā is also aware of the existence of the world (not Self). All experiences in essence are of the same nature, whether it is the experience of the Self or of the world. Experience is Knowledge. Knowledge is the same regardless of its content.