The Absolute Self is Indestructible

नैनं छिन्दन्ति शस्त्राणि नैनं दहति पावक: |

न चैनं क्लेदयन्त्यापो न शोषयति मारुत: || 2.23||

Meaning of the Shloka: The Absolute Self can’t be shred by any weapon, burnt by fire, drowned by water, or dried by the wind. (Bhagvad Gita 2.23)

Context: Arjuna was concerned about the potential loss of life and wealth the upcoming war would bring upon his people. Krishna explained to him that the material he is afraid of losing is destructible by nature.

It’s a matter of time before Arjuna, or anyone, will be devoid of all of their material possessions, including their body. Hence, we mustn’t lament the loss of physical entities.

This leaves us with the Absolute Self (Aatma), also known as the eternal truth and knowledge, a metaphysical entity. It is indestructible by nature.

If you erase all of the mathematics books from existence, for instance, they don’t stop existing immediately. They simply become unknown to human civilization. Hence, we mustn’t fear losing the Absolute Self or any part thereof.

Fundamentally, sorrow emanating from any kind of loss, perceived or otherwise, is pointless.

Material sacrifices in the path of duty

Duties refer to the things we should do. Most of us already know what it is. Working out, being disciplined, upskilling, and more. However, we pretend to remain oblivious because it serves as an excellent justification for laziness.

The truth is that we are all afraid to sacrifice material comfort and sensory pleasure. 

Waking up 30 minutes early for a job translates to pain and struggle. Sitting in front of a computer on a Sunday evening to write a blog article, when you can eat pizza and binge-watch Netflix, is difficult.

Due to our incorrect perception of reality and a biological proclivity to seek comfort, we refrain from making the relevant material sacrifices necessary in the path of our duties.

Holding on to past losses

Another symptom of material addiction is remaining stuck in the past. Every individual in this world endures losses. It’s the nature of life that makes it inescapable.

Whether it's money, career opportunities, health, or relationships, once in a while, we part ways from circumstances and things that are soothing. However, many long for those moments and mentally choose to remain in that period of time, rather than accepting the situation and moving on.

Here, too, people deliberately pretend to be more emotionally hurt, so it justifies their ongoing inaction.

If you look around, human beings have recovered from unbelievable losses. Wars, for instance, take away everything, including house, financial savings, and loved ones. Still, people find it within themselves to pull themselves back up.

On the other hand, you will discover folks still moping about a breakup they had in college or a job interview that they rocked but didn’t get the opportunity.

Wrapping up: Duty over everything

Life tests us all, and we lose things along the way. 

Sometimes, when chasing greatness, you should be open-minded enough to accept the fact that it will cost you your beloved comfort. Habits that have been ingrained into your behavior must be edited out through the brute force of discipline. 

All of these things are painful. Especially when the results are not instantly visible. This is one of the reasons why I give the example of working out. It can take months of hard work before you start seeing any permanent gains.

Amid suffering, it is critical to remember that material, which includes your own body, is temporary and will wither through time. Hence, the sacrifices you make are not even a real loss, for it was never a gain to begin with.

It must be spent or utilized to pursue knowledge, find the eternal truth, and merge with the Absolute Self. Aligning yourself with it is the only way you will ever become immortal.

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Next Chapter: Coming Soon

Previous Chapter: Material Manifests from the Absolute Self

Index (with Prologue): Krishna Said That: Prologue

Knowledge or truth is beyond your material self