The three possibilities of the self — choose yours

The following is an excerpt from a samvaad (dialogue) session with Acharya Prashant.

उद्धरेदात्मनात्मानं नात्मानमवसादयेत्।

आत्मैव ह्यात्मनो बन्धुरात्मैव रिपुरात्मन:।।5।।

uddhared ātmanātmānaṁ nātmānam avasādayet

ātmaiva hyātmano bandhur ātmaiva ripur ātmanaḥ

One should save oneself by oneself. One should not lower oneself. For oneself is truly one’s own friend. Oneself is truly one’s own enemy.

~ Chapter 6, Verse 5

✥ ✥ ✥

बन्धुरात्मात्मनस्तस्य येनात्मैवात्मना जित:।

अनात्मनस्तु शत्रुत्वे वर्ते तात्मैव शत्रुवत्।।6।।

bandhur ātmātmanas tasya yenātmaivātmanā jitaḥ

anātmanas tu śhatrutve vartetātmaiva śhatru-vat

Of him by whom has been conquered his very self by the self, his self is the friend of his…