"Who am I?" is one of the most fundamental questions in human existence. According to Vedic wisdom, you are not your body or mind, but an eternal spiritual being—a soul (atma).

In the Bhagavad Gita (2.20), Lord Krishna explains:

"For the soul there is neither birth nor death at any time. He has not come into being, does not come into being, and will not come into being. He is unborn, eternal, ever-existing, and primeval. He is not slain when the body is slain."

As spiritual beings, we are eternal, full of knowledge, and naturally joyful. However, in the material world, we identify with our temporary bodies and minds, which leads to suffering through repeated birth, disease, old age, and death.

Our true constitutional position is to be an eternal servant of God (Krishna). Just as a fish cannot be happy out of water, we cannot find true happiness outside of our loving relationship with Krishna. The process of self-realization helps us rediscover our original spiritual identity and our relationship with the Supreme.

The journey of self-discovery involves:

• Understanding that you are not the material body but the spiritual soul within
• Recognizing your eternal relationship with Krishna
• Engaging in spiritual practices like mantra meditation, studying sacred texts, and associating with spiritually minded people
• Developing qualities like compassion, truthfulness, cleanliness, and self-control
• Gradually detaching from material identification and reawakening your dormant love for God

By understanding your true spiritual identity, you can experience lasting peace, happiness, and fulfillment that transcends the temporary pleasures and pains of material existence.