--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: There is not a single atom (parmanu) of…" description: "\"“There is not a single atom (parmanu) of my-ness (mamata) in this coffee table. There is nothing of the Self (Atma) in it either. But there is someone’..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/bc0/dada-bhagwan-31_my-ness_there-is-not-a-single-atom-parmanu-of-my_1487030.jpg" --- # There is not a single atom (parmanu) of my-ness (mamata)… ![“There is not a single atom (parmanu) of my-ness (mamata) in this coffee table. There is nothing of the Self (Atma) in it either. But there is someone’s ‘my-ness’ (mamata-bhaav) in it (for the table). Therefore, if you burn this coffee table, you become liable for the wrongdoing.” quote by Dada Bhagwan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/bc0/dada-bhagwan-31_my-ness_there-is-not-a-single-atom-parmanu-of-my_1487030.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/bc0/dada-bhagwan-31_my-ness_there-is-not-a-single-atom-parmanu-of-my_1487030.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/bc0/dada-bhagwan-31_my-ness_there-is-not-a-single-atom-parmanu-of-my_1487030.jpg) > ““There is not a single atom (parmanu) of my-ness (mamata) in this coffee table. There is nothing of the Self (Atma) in it either. But there is someone’s ‘my-ness’ (mamata-bhaav) in it (for the table). Therefore, if you burn this coffee table, you become liable for the wrongdoing.”” [Dada Bhagwan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dada-bhagwan/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. The table has no intrinsic self; any perceived ownership is a mental construct, so harming it creates moral liability. **In simple terms:** Objects lack true self; harming them is ethically wrong. Key Takeaway Respect objects as extensions of others' relationships. Themes ethics mindfulness ownership Mood reflective serious Type philosophical ethical When to use this quote - home - environmental stewardship - personal conduct - legal liability Key Concepts non-self moral responsibility Questions to Reflect On - What does “my-ness” mean to you? - How do you assign responsibility to in objects? A Different Perspective If you view the table as merely material, the moral claim weakens. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Atma Ness](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/atma-ness-5431346/) [Atom Parmanu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/atom-parmanu-5431348/) [My-ness](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/my-ness/) [Self](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/self/) [Self Atma](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/self-atma-472304/) [Table Burn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/table-burn-5431347/) [Table Self](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/table-self-5431350/) ## Related quotes > [“The one who has egoism and 'my-ness'; the one who believes that “I am the doer,” are all considered to be ‘jiva’ (living beings).…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dada-bhagwan/the-one-who-has-egoism-and-my-ness-the-one-who-believes-that-i-am-the/) [Dada Bhagwan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dada-bhagwan/) > [“In this worldly life where there is no ownership, where there is nothing, one has come here as a guest. 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One only does not keep 'my-ness' while 'sweeping the floor'!”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dada-bhagwan/there-is-my-ness-everywhere-you-see-one-only-does-not-keep-my-ness/) [Dada Bhagwan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dada-bhagwan/) > [“That which removes the egoism and 'my-ness' is the true instrument.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dada-bhagwan/that-which-removes-the-egoism-and-my-ness-is-the-true-instrument/) [Dada Bhagwan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dada-bhagwan/) > [“My-ness' is itself parigraha (possessiveness). An object is not parigraha. A Gnani (enlightened one) does not have 'my-ness', he has eternal element (Pure Soul)”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dada-bhagwan/my-ness-is-itself-parigraha-possessiveness-an-object-is-not-parigraha/) [Dada Bhagwan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dada-bhagwan/) > [“We' too are carrying out 'our' worldly obligations, but how do 'we' do it? Without the sense of 'I-ness' (aham) and 'my-ness' (mamat)! Dramatically!!!”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dada-bhagwan/we-too-are-carrying-out-our-worldly-obligations-but-how-do-we-do-it/) [Dada Bhagwan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dada-bhagwan/) > [“A worldly outlook (sansaarbhaav) means (to have) a sense of 'I-ness' (ahambhaav) plus 'my-ness' (mamatbhaav). A non-worldly outlook (asansaarbhaav) means (to have) a dramatic…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dada-bhagwan/a-worldly-outlook-sansaarbhaav-means-to-have-a-sense-of-i-ness/) [Dada Bhagwan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dada-bhagwan/) > [“Simply saying the word 'Self' (Atma) will not work. The conviction of the Self must set in. Conviction means doubtlessness (nihshankta) about the Self;…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dada-bhagwan/simply-saying-the-word-self-atma-will-not-work-the-conviction-of-the/) [Dada Bhagwan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dada-bhagwan/) > [ “For whom is the religion of the Self \[Atma Dharm\] for? It is for the one who is not blinded or dazzled by anyone.… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dada-bhagwan/for-whom-is-the-religion-of-the-self-atma-dharm-for-it-is-for-the-one/) [Dada Bhagwan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dada-bhagwan/) > [ “In worldly state, the Soul \[the Real Self, Atma\] compresses and spreads according to the ‘vessel’ (the body); and in the state of moksha… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dada-bhagwan/in-worldly-state-the-soul-the-real-self-atma-compresses-and-spreads/) [Dada Bhagwan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dada-bhagwan/) > [“The inherent nature of the Self (atma) is such that as the belief changes, one becomes like that. In that, the Self indeed remains…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dada-bhagwan/the-inherent-nature-of-the-self-atma-is-such-that-as-the-belief/) [Dada Bhagwan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dada-bhagwan/) > [“As long as the doubts (shanka) related to the Self (Atma) do not go away, no doubt of the worldly life will leave.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dada-bhagwan/as-long-as-the-doubts-shanka-related-to-the-self-atma-do-not-go-away/) [Dada Bhagwan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dada-bhagwan/) > [“What is saiyam parinaam? It is when the Self (Atma) does not become one in with the non-Self (pudgal); It continues to prevail separately.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dada-bhagwan/what-is-saiyam-parinaam-it-is-when-the-self-atma-does-not-become-one/) [Dada Bhagwan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dada-bhagwan/) ## More by Dada Bhagwan > [“Where there is doubt (shanka), there is misery. The moment one begins to doubt the knowledge that, 'I am Chandubhai,' misery arises. 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As long as anger-pride-deceit-greed exist; one is a sansaari \[living a worldly life\] regardless of… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dada-bhagwan/where-there-are-kashays-anger-pride-deceit-greed-there-is-worldly/) [Dada Bhagwan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dada-bhagwan/) > [“If one does not know how to read the account (karmic) book, then he will start to have doubts, and doubts lead to unhappiness.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dada-bhagwan/if-one-does-not-know-how-to-read-the-account-karmic-book-then-he-will/) [Dada Bhagwan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dada-bhagwan/) > [ “Skills (learning) or lack of skills is all egoistic knowledge (ego based knowledge). Ego-free Knowledge is called (true) Knowledge \[Gnan\].” ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dada-bhagwan/skills-learning-or-lack-of-skills-is-all-egoistic-knowledge-ego-based/) [Dada Bhagwan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dada-bhagwan/) > [“Continue with whatever it is that you have been doing, except for attachment-abhorrence. If ‘we’ stay in our state of Pure Soul, attachment-abhorrence will…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dada-bhagwan/continue-with-whatever-it-is-that-you-have-been-doing-except-for/) [Dada Bhagwan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dada-bhagwan/) > [“A variety of difficulties will come your way. But at the time of difficulty, you will be able to find a ready made medicine…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dada-bhagwan/a-variety-of-difficulties-will-come-your-way-but-at-the-time-of/) [Dada Bhagwan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dada-bhagwan/) > [“Suppose you want to go to Juhu (suburb in Mumbai) from here, and you come across two paths, which of the two paths is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dada-bhagwan/suppose-you-want-to-go-to-juhu-suburb-in-mumbai-from-here-and-you/) [Dada Bhagwan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dada-bhagwan/) > [“The Soul (our true Self) has to be experienced, the Soul known through scriptures will not do. Work will not be completed through scriptural…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dada-bhagwan/the-soul-our-true-self-has-to-be-experienced-the-soul-known-through/) [Dada Bhagwan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dada-bhagwan/) > [“If God were the doer, when will there be an end?! 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Spontaneous forgiveness is a sign of having attained the Self…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dada-bhagwan/forgiveness-is-not-to-be-given-by-speaking-forgiveness-is-natural-and/) [Dada Bhagwan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dada-bhagwan/) > [“Remaining absolutely non-acquisitive (aparigrahi) amidst all possessions is the ultimate ‘test examination’.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dada-bhagwan/remaining-absolutely-non-acquisitive-aparigrahi-amidst-all/) [Dada Bhagwan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dada-bhagwan/) [Explore all 2,468 Dada Bhagwan quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dada-bhagwan/) ## More My-ness quotes > [“As long as the egoism is alive, 'my-ness' remains within.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dada-bhagwan/as-long-as-the-egoism-is-alive-my-ness-remains-within/) [Dada Bhagwan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dada-bhagwan/) > [“That which removes the egoism and 'my-ness' is the true instrument.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dada-bhagwan/that-which-removes-the-egoism-and-my-ness-is-the-true-instrument/) [Dada Bhagwan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dada-bhagwan/) > [“A worldly outlook (sansaarbhaav) means (to have) a sense of 'I-ness' (ahambhaav) plus 'my-ness' (mamatbhaav). A non-worldly outlook (asansaarbhaav) means (to have) a dramatic…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dada-bhagwan/a-worldly-outlook-sansaarbhaav-means-to-have-a-sense-of-i-ness/) [Dada Bhagwan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dada-bhagwan/) > [“We' too are carrying out 'our' worldly obligations, but how do 'we' do it? Without the sense of 'I-ness' (aham) and 'my-ness' (mamat)! Dramatically!!!”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dada-bhagwan/we-too-are-carrying-out-our-worldly-obligations-but-how-do-we-do-it/) [Dada Bhagwan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dada-bhagwan/) > [“My-ness' is itself parigraha (possessiveness). An object is not parigraha. A Gnani (enlightened one) does not have 'my-ness', he has eternal element (Pure Soul)”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dada-bhagwan/my-ness-is-itself-parigraha-possessiveness-an-object-is-not-parigraha/) [Dada Bhagwan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dada-bhagwan/) > [“There is 'my-ness' everywhere you see! One only does not keep 'my-ness' while 'sweeping the floor'!”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dada-bhagwan/there-is-my-ness-everywhere-you-see-one-only-does-not-keep-my-ness/) [Dada Bhagwan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dada-bhagwan/) > [“A person who has egoism without 'my-ness', will attain moksha (ultimate liberation). All this 'entrapment' is because of egoism filled with 'my-ness'!”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dada-bhagwan/a-person-who-has-egoism-without-my-ness-will-attain-moksha-ultimate/) [Dada Bhagwan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dada-bhagwan/) > [“In this worldly life where there is no ownership, where there is nothing, one has come here as a guest. 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