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Gita Lesson - 0406: Beyond Sensory Perception

Bhagavad Gita
Unit - 04
Lesson - 0406: Beyond Sensory Perception
By Raja Subramaniyan

Atman exists at all times without any change. Universe (consisting of inert objects) is present at all times as a changing phenomenon.

Example: River appears to be present all the time but it is changing all the time. Even if there is no water - during draught - it continues to be called as a river.

Similarly, names and forms (the universe including our physical bodies/ mind) appear, keep changing and then disappear cyclically. The Atman, which remains unchanging supports and sustains this ever-changing universe. Only the illusion consisting of name and form can come within our perception. We cannot perceive the Atman since it is formless, part less, attributeless and one without the second.

Another important reason why the Atman cannot be perceived is that there is no one or nothing existing other than the Atman. It is the knower or perceiver. The knower cannot be the known, as the fire cannot be burnt. The function of the knower is to know just as the function of the fire is to burn.

Atman is immeasurable since it is beyond perception. It is beyond the reach of the mind. Atman cannot be experienced. Our mind can only comprehend the Atman as an entity that is beyond comprehension.

Example: A one-liter-jar is full of stones. In order to fill the jar with space, we cannot measure one-liter of space and try to stuff it inside the jar. All that has to be done is to remove the stones. Automatically space will occupy the jar. Space did not enter the jar after removal of the stones. It was always there but it was beyond perception.

Similarly, by identifying all inert objects, we can remove them from our perception of the word "I". The remaining part, which is the Atman, is self-revealing. Understanding the misconception of the word, 'I' is like removing the cloud that was covering the self-revealing sun. In fact the presence of the cloud is revealed only due to the presence of the sunlight. Similarly, our misunderstanding of the word 'I' is also revealed only because of the illumining power of the Atman.

Thus, the Atman is the experiencer and it cannot be experienced. We need to understand what is 'not Atman' to gain right self-knowledge.

Teaching 9: You are immeasurable and beyond perception

When we are clear who we are, we will have no doubt about the illusory nature of the world. Since there is only one Atman that is present all the time, everything that happens in the world can be compared to a drama.

Each individual that we encounter in the world are reflections of the very same Atman (that is me). All the living beings that we encounter in life are similar to the reflections on the multiple mirrors in a trial room. When we look into the mirrors, we see different reflections of ourselves. In order to see whether the apparel is fitting us properly, we might keep looking at different reflections. May be the reflection that shows our right profile is better looking than the reflection that shows our back.

Whichever reflection we look at, we are clear that it is me. Even if we feel that one reflection is better than the other we have no doubt in our mind that every reflection depends on our body, which is not many in number.

Similarly, the world is full of people (including ourselves), who are mere reflections of the one and only Atman. It is not possible to destroy the Atman. Even if we destroy a reflection (by breaking a mirror), nothing happens to the body/ Atman.

By explaining these truths, Lord Krishna wants Arjuna to do his duty. All of us need to do our duty and should not try to run away from it. Lord Krishna knows that Arjuna has not fully comprehended his teaching. Still, he says '�therefore do your duty' because only by doing our duty we can hope to comprehend the teaching in full. It will be explained latter that we need to prepare our mind to receive the teaching and doing our duty sincerely is the only way to prepare our mind. Only then, we will see the difference between the changeless Atman and the ever-changing illusion very clearly.

It is like the pictures of food items advertised in a restaurant. The picture of the food, however realistic it may be, will not satisfy the hunger of the customer. On the other hand, even if the customer is not hungry, the pictures may stimulate hunger and make him order some of the items. Similarly, Lord Krishna describes our real nature to us with a hope that we will work for understanding the same. Only after eating the food, the hunger will go. Similarly, only after comprehending the essential difference between the changeless Atman and the ever-changing illusion, will all our sufferings vanish. Giving an overview of our real selves in these verses serves not only as an introduction, but will also stimulate our eagerness to spend time and effort in gaining the discriminative power (to discriminate the real from the illusion). Doing our duty is the means to make our mind mature to receive this discriminative power. Therefore, we need to do our duty.

Chapter 2: Wisdom is the solution [Verse: 18]

2.18 Only the physical body of the indestructible, immeasurable and eternal living entity is subject to destruction; therefore, fight, Oh Arjuna.

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