Self awareness relates to manifest physical body whereas self realization to existence of inner self we called soul atman seemingly resident in our heart. Self realization relates to path of spirituality.
The cognitive ability of individuals to realize, identify self as a separate entity distinct from others is called self awareness. As an independent entity we could all the time exercise free will, emotions, power of discrimination without others asking us for assistance. Being aware of our inner strengths, weaknesses, thoughts and beliefs, identifying self with the body is exercising self-awareness, being aware of the physical self.
A person aware of self can distinctly recognize all other individual personalities in the world. Bodily all were different separate from the inner identity that unified all. All human beings had an inner self that connected the entire world. The inner self had almost same properties. One differed from other only in respect of dross impurities within.
Here our main query is how self awareness differed from self-realization?
Self realization is realizing we were primarily a spiritual being, a consciousness existing in heart as soul atman. Full realization of self means indulging in spirituality so that we could cleanse our inner self of dross impurities within! In their cosmic sojourn souls atmans gathered impurities. To cleanse themselves of dross impurities within starts cosmic life cycle of every soul atman.
Moment life supporting planets like mother earth evolved in cosmic system, these souls’ atmans we called inner self start manifesting body on mother earth. The journey starts by a soul atman manifesting form of amoeba (single cell formation), the first manifestation by soul atman in cosmic life cycle. It further evolves into multi-cell formation, insect life, plant life, animal life and finally the human form. In human form the soul atman can cleanse self of dross impurities within forever.
This becomes possible when indulging in spirituality travelers of spiritual path successfully awaken their kundalini shakti fully. Bodily we failed to realize our true inner self existing in heart. Our ego prevents us doing so. Due to presence of ego, human beings think that the physical body was the end of all. There was nothing beyond physical perception. They fail to realize that beyond the physical world existed a world of souls’ atmans.
The moment we become aware of our inner identity, we try to negate karma to zero. Negating karma to zero means eradicating self from dross impurities within! Indulging in spiritual principles of life as detailed in Bhagavad Gita human beings finally succeed reaching stage of absolute purity. The soul atman, this true inner self gaining absolute purity is termed self realization, realization of our true inner self forever.
We finally become what we truly were. Indulging in spiritual precepts of life we as a soul atman finally regained our lost pure prime pristine primordial form.
From first manifestation to last, 8.4 millionth manifestation the effort of every soul atman (our true inner self) remains gaining total purity at the earliest.
Self realization is about reaching cosmic end of life. Self realization is about becoming a Mahavira, Gautama Buddha, Jesus Christ or Prophet Mohammed. Self realization is also about becoming Sri Ramakrishna Paramhansa or Maharishi Ramana.
When we realized our true hidden potential as a soul atman, it is termed self realization. Awareness of our true inner self existing in heart is what self realization all about. All indulgences in yoga meditation, pranayama, awakening of kundalini are related to journey of self realization.