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“The personal relative self involves the idea of individuality, but the Absolute
does not ... The question arises¾are there two selves? One involving individuality, and the
other, without individuality but universal?
There is really one Self which is the Absolute. The relative self is not something different
from the Absolute Self, but it is only the Absolute Self experienced through the adjunct or the
instrument of the mind. An object has an independent nature of its own, but when it is seen
through a distorted coloured glass, it also appears distorted and coloured. It does not however
mean from this that the object is both perfect and distorted at the same time; the difference is
only in the means of perception and knowledge. This is the case also with the experience of the
Absolute Self with the help of the finite mind acting as the instrument of knowledge. The
difference is in the medium of perception; the Reality is one.
From "May I answer that" by Swami Sivananda (1987-1963). More Informations on Swami Sivananda: on the Website of Divine Life Society, Photographs of Swami Sivananda, German Pages on Swami Sivananda