It is an arduous process for man to become aware of the ONE which is his core. The person is of the essence of food (Anna). The gross body is the product of the food consumed. But in man, there is a subtler force, an inner vibration, named Prana or Vital Air. The mind (manas) within is subtler still, and deeper than the manas and subtler, is the intellect (vignana). Beyond the intellect, we have in us the subtlest sheath of Ananda or Bliss. When man delves into this Ananda region of himself, he can experience the Reality, the Brahmam, the ONE. That awareness is indeed the most desirable.

In the Taithiriya Upanishad, the Bhrgu Valli, which comes after the Brahmananda Valli, has the story of Bhrgu, son of Varuna. While teaching the son the Brahmam phenomenon, he says: "Son! Bhrgu! Brahmam cannot be seen through the eyes. Know that Brahmam is that which enables the eyes to see and the ears to hear. He can be known only through Tapas (extreme yearning in a cleansed mind and concentrated thought). No other means can help." He added, "Dear Bhrgu! Know that everything in the Universe originates from Brahmam, exists in Brahmam and unfolds through Brahmam, and merges in Brahmam alone. Discover it yourself through Tapas," The father gave him only these indications, before directing him to enter upon spiritual exercises which will ultimately reveal the Truth.

With full faith in the words of his father Bhrgu was engaged in Tapas. The process of self-control and self-inquiry raised his consciousness and he believed what he understood at that stage as Brahmam and decided that food (Anna) was Brahmam! When he declared what he has come to know, his father, Varuna, told him that his answer was not right. So, he continued the tapas and found out that Prana (vital air) was Brahmam, since without Prana, other things are vain. Prana causes life, promotes life and puts an end to life. But the father pronounced this inference too wrong and sent him again for further Tapas. In this manner, Bhrgu has a third period of austerity when he came upon manas as Brahmam and later, a fourth when he revised that conclusion and believed that it was Vijnana. At last, after undergoing a fifth course of tapas, he became aware that Ananda was Brahmam. He stayed in the Bliss of that Awareness and never more proceeded to his father. The father sought him out and approached him. He congratulated Bhrgu, who had cast the world away from his memory. He said, "Son! You have now visualised Brahmam; you have merged in that Vision."