Om Namah Shivaya Gurave
Om Namo Bhagavate Dakshinamurtaye
When there is not an adequate study of Vedanta under a traditional teacher of Vedanta, there is no understanding of the highly sophisticated methodology of 'lakshana vritti' used in the mahavakyas like 'Tat Tvam Asi'.
Modern teachers of Vedanta of the so called 'Direct Path' who have not been exposed perhaps to the rigorous methodology of the teaching of Vedanta can sometimes do a disservice to Vedanta by claiming that statements like 'Tat Tvam Asi', 'Ayam Atma Brahma', are a subtle form of ignorance because there is no 'That' there is only 'I'. They only display their ignorance of the methodology used in Vedanta. It a great pity that these popular 'Direct Path' teachers spread this kind of misinformation.
They miss the point totally that 'Tat Tvam Asi' is an equation much like (5+4) = (11-2) revealing the identity of what is taken to be a limited individual, to be identical to the limitless whole.... that there is a methodology used to reveal the identity which does not use the direct meaning of the words - but rather uses the implied meaning. The equation 'Tat Tvam Asi' is a means of knowledge culminating in the direct and immediate recognition of the limited 'I' to be the limitless whole.
I would invite these "Direct Path' teachers to undergo a study of traditional Vedanta, rather than pass on misinformation.
Om Tat Sat
