Sri Chinmoy, in the Hindu tradition one speaks of how Atman equals Brahman — the individual soul equals the Universal Soul. Jesus Christ once said, "I and my Father are one." These two statements, coming from two different spiritual backgrounds — are they, in the spiritual light, one and the same?

It is the same statement. Atman and Paramatman are the individual soul and the Supreme Self. God comes down into the manifestation and takes the form of the individual soul, Atman. Then the individual soul in the process of its evolution reaches and becomes the Supreme Self, Paramatman. To fulfil Himself integrally and wholly in the material world, God needs the individual soul.

The statements are the same. When Christ said, "I and my Father are one", it was like saying that Atman and Paramatman are one. That is why in India we say Atmanam Viddhi, "Know Thyself." If you know yourself, then you know God, because in essence there is no difference between you and God. Self-realisation is God-realisation and God-realisation is Self-realisation. For this reason in India we also say Soham asmi, "He am I", and Aham Brahma, "I am Brahman." In the same vein, all the esoteric traditions have always maintained that true knowledge is found by seeking within. This is why Jesus said, "The Kingdom of Heaven is within you."