Knowledge (Absolute Self) Is Metaphysical

न जायते म्रियते वा कदाचिन्नायं भूत्वा भविता वा न भूयः ।

अजो नित्यः शाश्वतोऽयं पुराणोन हन्यते हन्यमाने शरीरे ॥2.20॥

Meaning: It (Absolute Self or Eternal Knowledge) is never born or undergoes death. There wasn’t a time in which it didn’t exist. It is unborn, eternal, permanent, and ancient that doesn’t die even if the body is destroyed. (Bhagvad Gita 2.20)

Context: Krishna was explaining to Arjuna the difference between temporary and permanent entities in the universe. 

Everything we see, conceive, and interact with through our senses and action organs is temporary because they go through the never-ending cycle of birth and death. However, knowledge, truth, or God, are eternal and permanent. 

The objective of highlighting this difference was to inspire Arjuna to choose his actions without fear of loss. It helps Arjuna realize that even if he participates in the Mahabharata War, he won’t be destroying anything that isn’t destructible already.

Difference Between ‘Physical’ and ‘Metaphysical’

Physical entities go through these six phases: creation (birth), existence, growth, transformation, decline, and destruction (death). They can be perceived through our five senses and contacted through our five action organs (hands, feet, genitalia, excretory organs, and voice box).

Metaphysical entities are beyond the cycle of creation and destruction. Consider mathematical equations. Even if they vanish, it doesn’t mean they aren’t true anymore. It simply means we aren’t aware of them.

Due to the nature of metaphysical entities, they are grouped into one, known as the Absolute Self, personified by Vishnu.

You can realize some portions of the infinite absolute self or knowledge through meditating upon truths. For instance, existing mathematics gives birth to new mathematics. This occurs when nerds meditate upon the texts for long and eventually a portion of truth appears in their minds.

How Physical and Metaphysical are Linked

Everything in the physical realm is a manifestation of the metaphysical entity.

Consider the device you are reading these words off of. It was, once upon a time, a figment of imagination, an interesting thought, in someone’s mind. With time, it grew arms and legs and eventually ended up in your hands, in front of your eyes.

Similarly, every incident or phenomenon around you is a manifestation of the universal or eternal truths.

For instance, you may have seen folks playing too fast and loose with life ending up in a terrible place they can’t get out of. Just the truth playing itself out in their form. 

Additionally, knowledge exists in various forms. A true statement, like a math equation, can manifest into multiple engineering marvels. My favorite example of this phenomenon is Justin Timberlake’s ‘What Goes Around, Comes Around’ and Newton’s Third Law of Motion.

Conclusion: Knowledge is Indestructible

If you end up in a situation in your life where you must go to war, whether it is an armed conflict or a confrontational situation, do not think that you are ‘destroying’ something. 

Everything in the material world is already destructible and you can’t stop that for it is in their nature. The only thing you can and should do is do your righteous duty without laziness, attachment, and desire, and embrace the consequences.

A word of caution — dark knowledge is truth as well. It emerges out of arrogance. It is also infinite and manifests in various forms — lust, greed, fear, etc.

When determining a course of action, the Absolute Self or Vishnu that pervades us all will tell you whether it’s right or wrong. After that, it’s up to you.

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Next Chapter: The Oblivious Misunderstand the Absolute Self

Previous Chapter: Go to War

Index (with Prologue): Krishna Said That

Knowledge is timeless.