The Brihadaranyaka Upanishad Mahavakya Dhyana Mantra comprises two of the four great sayings (mahavakyas) from the Brihadaranyaka Upanishad, which is part of the Shukla Yajurveda. The first mahavakya, 'Aham Brahmasmi' (I am Brahman), appears in Brihadaranyaka Upanishad 1.4.10, where the sage Yajnavalkya instructs his wife Maitreyi on the nature of the self. The second, 'Neti Neti' (Not this, not this), is found in Brihadaranyaka Upanishad 2.3.6 and 3.9.26, used as a method of negation to describe the indescribable Brahman. These mantras are not chanted as typical sound-based mantras but are meditative formulas for contemplation (dhyana).
The beej-akshara 'Aham' (I) is the first person pronoun, representing the individual self, while 'Brahmasmi' asserts identity with the ultimate reality. 'Neti Neti' is a compound of 'na iti' (not thus), repeated to negate all attributes. According to the Advaita Vedanta tradition, as systematized by Shankaracharya in his commentaries on the Brihadaranyaka Upanishad, these mantras are used for self-inquiry (atma-vichara) to realize the non-dual nature of reality. The traditional purpose is liberation (moksha) through direct knowledge of the self.
Chanting is recommended during meditation, ideally in a quiet setting, with a count of 108 repetitions using a rudraksha mala, or as a continuous mental recitation. The best time is brahma muhurta (pre-dawn). No specific cautions are given, but these mantras require proper guidance from a guru due to their profound philosophical depth. They are central to Vedantic study and are recited during spiritual discourses and retreats.
The Lalita Sahasranama also echoes this non-dual teaching in verse 1000, 'Aham Brahmasmi' as a state of realization. The Mantra-Yoga-Samhita emphasizes that such mahavakyas are for those who have purified their minds through karma and bhakti yoga.
I am Brahman. Not this, not this.
The seed-syllable 'Aham' (अहम्) is the first person pronoun, representing the individual self. In Advaita Vedanta, it is used as a beej for self-inquiry, asserting identity with Brahman. 'Neti' is a compound of 'na' (not) and 'iti' (thus), used as a negation seed to strip away all attributes.