Hridaya Kshetram

No Two: The Shift of Identity

22 September 2025

Question: For non-duality, there are teachings and practises to obtain Realisation. But wouldn’t that be impossible — since it assumes subject and object, and a ‘me’ to do something real?
AMMA: There are no two. There's no subject and object. There's only Subject.
There are not two subjects here. As long as the identity, the other identity is covering the pure identity as this non-dual principle, then we speak about spiritual practice: Who am I, Self-enquiry, and what is the subject, what is the object, it all comes there. But if the pure subject knows, ‘Yes, this is it, I am this,’ finished. That is non-dual. It's not two.
That's the experience of every human. Nobody is apart from it. But this false identity sometimes comes and takes over. The very base of your experience is the Self. The moment you come to identify with this individuality as me, or this being as a separate one, and this takes you over.
It's not two. It cannot be.

Question: In non-duality are there levels of Realisation? Or no levels at all? It seems like anyone on the path could obtain it?
AMMA: It's not about the level. Levels are about this relative plane. For the truth there is no level. The level is for the maturity of the second being to recognise. ‘I am not this, I am that’.
The non-dual doesn't need any Realisation. It's ever Realised. It's only a shift of identity. The one identified with this has to shift into that. How much time it takes, you say maturity. But for the one who knows this, there are no levels because there is only One. As long as the Advaita principle is concerned, nobody is out of it. You cannot say somebody attained greater or lesser. The Self knows no gradation. Once it is recognised, you know there is no gradation.
Anyone, anytime, can know their true identity from anywhere. Doesn't need a traditional path. But it's rare. Once seeking comes within, it becomes a spiritual path. If you identify your true nature right now as pure consciousness, you can realise that there is no person there. If somebody is simple, with not much baggage, even if not spiritual, if their heart is ready, if they sit and listen to this truth — finished.

Question: Amma, when delusion is let go, there can be sadness and a need for Guru’s support. Is this why the Lord embodies a compassionate form, like Krishna or Mother?
AMMA: Thinking there is some other support, that itself is delusion. We say swashtaya — totally depending on one’s Self. Not the individual self. All other dependencies are unreal. Even the seeming help is from there. That is Realisation. When you know things happen from the Self, you become swashtaya. Self-dependent.
Every hand is His hand. Whatever comes, stays, or goes is His wish. It all becomes One, not many. Then you will not keep dependency on someone else or something. When you know there is only One, whatever comes can come only from that One. Then the vision of many disappears in all its forms. This is Self-dependence — the absolute knowing there is no other. Delusion is thinking there is some other to depend on. But whatever you depend on is only that one hand, appearing in many.

Question: What about happiness?
AMMA: Why speak of it? Just be happy. Not saying, ‘I’m happy’, but being happy.

Question: I’ve been on this path for 15 years. How do I measure progress — by an increase in peace and happiness?
AMMA: Yes, true. Suffering reduces, peace and happiness increase. That is maturity of mind. But the mind still gives ups and downs. Again return to truth. Surrender, negate that part of mind, and go beyond it.

Question: Is freedom when there is pain, or when we realise the suffering never really happened to us?
AMMA: Of course. The body may have pain, but you know you are not that. Nothing more to do. Go beyond it. Once your identity is that, you don’t worry.

Question: Being here, the focus is strong, but when I return home to the States it will be hard. How can I avoid getting pulled into suffering?
AMMA: What you received here, remember and abide in it. Suffering comes when we identify with what we are not. Keep reminding yourself who you are. Even coming here was the Self’s blessing. Grace is already there. Your part is to keep reminding: Who am I? In pure being, is there suffering? No. Return again and again.

Amma closed by saying, Forgetfulness and identity are the same. Keep reminding of your own true nature which you already have. And of course all the support, help, everything is already there.