Abraham Quote by Rabindranath Tagore
“Our self (Soul) is maya (an illusion) where it is merely individual and finite, where it considers its separateness as absolute; it is satyam (truth) where it recognizes its essence in the universal and infinite, in the Supreme Self, in paramatman (God). This is what Christ means when he says, "Before Abraham was, I am" (i.e. before Abraham was God, who is the same that is in my soul - I am That.)”
About This Quote
Source Poem: The Book of Secrets, 1915
The quote contrasts the illusion of individual identity with the realization of unity with the divine, echoing Christ’s claim of eternal existence.
In simple terms: Self is illusion; true self is divine unity.
Key Takeaway
Recognize your deeper, infinite nature.
Themes
spirituality
identity
unity
divinity
philosophy
Mood
contemplative
reverent
Type
aphilosophical
spiritual
When to use this quote
- personal meditation
- interfaith dialogue
- philosophical study
- spiritual counseling
Key Concepts
Maya
Satya
Paramatman
Christology
Questions to Reflect On
- How do you experience the shift from separateness to unity?
- Can this insight change daily behavior?
A Different Perspective
It may oversimplify complex theological differences between Hindu and Christian thought.
![“Man (human life form) is a 'second-hand' quality of the absolute supreme Self (Parmatma, Lord). Man is close to the Lord [absolute supreme Self].” quote by Dada Bhagwan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/0b8/dada-bhagwan-31_absolute_man-human-life-form-is-a-second-hand-qua_1047515.jpg)
![“I’ with ‘my’ is known as the embodied Soul [Jivatma]. ‘I am’ and ‘All this is mine’ is the state of an embodied Soul [Jivatma]. And ‘I indeed am’ and ‘All this is not mine’, is the state of the Absolute Supreme Self [Parmatma]!!!” quote by Dada Bhagwan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/321/dada-bhagwan-31_absolute_i-with-my-is-known-as-the-embodied-soul_367988.jpg)
![“One will become Parmatma [Absolute Supreme Self] only when he becomes aashrit [having shelter of Pure Soul God within, Self Realized] from being nirashrit [the one without shelter].” quote by Dada Bhagwan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/2de/dada-bhagwan-31_pure-soul_one-will-become-parmatma-absolute-suprem_322026.jpg)
![“Donald Trump is not going to be the nominee, because we are not going to allow - people will wake up and we're not going to allow a con artist to take over the party of [Abraham] Lincoln and [Ronald] Reagan.” quote by Marco Rubio](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/c6a/marco-rubio-355_abraham_donald-trump-is-not-going-to-be-the-nomi_14750.jpg)
