The Absolute Self is Constant, But Its Manifestations Are Temporary

अव्यक्तोऽयमचिन्त्योऽयमविकार्योऽयमुच्यते |

तस्मादेवं विदित्वैनं नानुशोचितुमर्हसि || 2.25||

Meaning of the Shloka: The Absolute Self is described as unexplainable, unthinkable, and unattached. Therefore, after realizing this, you mustn’t lament (the dead). (Bhagvad Gita 2.25)

Context: The Absolute Self refers to the multiverse and everything within it. It can also be understood as the eternal truth and knowledge that is the root of all living and non-living entities.

For instance, the principles that explain how atoms and molecules create compounds are eternally true across the multiverse. However, the compounds themselves are temporary.

Similarly, every material entity that we can experience through our senses is a transient manifestation of the Absolute Self. Knowing this, we should practice detachment from material possessions and not let them determine our future course of action.

Arjuna was refraining from engaging in a righteous war because he was worried about the potential loss of lives.

Krishna explained the traits of the temporary material and the permanent Absolute Self. In the aforementioned Shloka, He elaborates on the vast, infinite, and unending nature of the Absolute Self to assure Arjuna that nothing is truly lost because material is transient anyway.

Everything emerges from knowledge

Knowledge gives rise to thoughts. Thoughts are the birthplace of ideas. Ideas become strategies, which define tangible action items. These action items have the power to create and destroy.

Any positive or negative thing, whether it is a thought, idea, emotion, object, or consequence, emanates from knowledge. Alternatively, knowledge is the beginning and ending of everything.

Due to this nature of knowledge, it is treated as the supreme element in the multiverse, also known as the Absolute Self.

It is pivotal to note that the different manifestations of knowledge, whether they are tangible or intangible, are often short-lived. Whether they are subtle, like an idea or an emotion, or gross, such as a course of action or spoken words, they are fleeting.

Throughout the history of the multiverse, this principle stands. Knowledge silently guides every little process around you. 

Human beings are regarded as a special creation of the multiverse because we have the ability to absorb more knowledge and manifest it at will, compared to other cosmic creations.

Mind over matter; knowledge over mind

Matter is what we perceive through our five physical senses. It is a gross or tangible entity and is short-lived. If we chase them or consider them as the objective of life, we will endure misery.

Mind is a level above matter. It deals with subtle entities like thoughts, ideas, information, and emotion. If you aim to have the ideal thoughts, ideas, information, and emotions, then your state of being would be better than it would be at the matter level.

However, the mind still has limitations. It is vulnerable to biases, which emerge from desire. When we want certain things to be true, we see them as factual. 

There are plenty of people who are wasting their potential by justifying their laziness to themselves in some type of way. The mentality of “I will do it tomorrow” exists because our mind wants us to remain comfortable.

Therefore, the objective truth or knowledge is superior to the mind. It doesn’t have any biases or intentions toward you. It just is.

Knowledge tells you what laziness is and how it will affect your life. The rest depends on your composition and character. Again, you can learn about different compositions and characters that create diverse human beings from the eternal truth and decide which one is best for you.

This is why embodying the truth is more meaningful than being more mindful. At the same time, the journey begins when you start being mindful, although the ultimate goal, always, is to be one with the eternal truth.

Conclusion: Situate yourself in knowledge

The Absolute Self is eternally true and pervades everything that we can ever conceive of. It has the answer to all of life’s questions through facts. 

Therefore, your life’s objective should be to pursue it with all your might and embody it in your thoughts, speech, and actions.

Aligning yourself with the eternal truth will cut the noise from your state of existence, give you a sense of purpose, and unlock your true potential.

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Next Chapter: Death is Life’s Unavoidable Conclusion

Previous Chapter: The Truth is Still, But Pervades Everything

Index (with Prologue): Krishna Said That: Prologue