Chapter 15 Shloka 10

उत्क्रामन्तं स्थितं वापि भुञ्जानं वा गुणान्वितम्।

विमूढ़ा नानुपश्यन्ति पश्यन्ति ज्ञानचक्षुषः।।१०।।

The foolish cannot perceive the Atma

exiting the body nor its abidance in the body

replete with varied attributes. Only they who

possess the eyes of wisdom realise this reality.

Chapter 15 Shloka 10

उत्क्रामन्तं स्थितं वापि भुञ्जानं वा गुणान्वितम्।

विमूढ़ा नानुपश्यन्ति पश्यन्ति ज्ञानचक्षुषः।।१०।।

The Lord now speaks of the capability of one who can objectively witness the phenomenon of the Atma donning the body, utilising it and the final relinquishing of the body.

The foolish cannot perceive the Atma exiting the body nor its abidance in the body replete with varied attributes. Only they who possess the eyes of wisdom realise this reality.

Despite witnessing the play of the gunas, the jivatma cannot perceive the complete reality. Little one, each day:

a) one witnesses death;

b) one witnesses birth;

c) one witnesses varied beings comprising myriad attributes;

d) one witnesses people’s enjoyment derived from the interaction of attributes;

e) one perceives self-contradictory attributes within oneself;

f) one notices one’s repulsion from the attributes of others;

g) one views attraction to other attributes;

h) one sees the influence of one’s own attributes on the attributes of others.

Then, the individual also sees that he has no control over his attributes. Despite witnessing all this:

a) he sees nothing;

b) he wishes to see nothing;

c) he wishes to see himself objectively least of all;

d) the truth is that man does not wish to know himself. He is afraid;

e) he does not wish to come face to face with the truth. For if he accepts the Truth as such, where will there be room for the poor ‘I’?

The eye of wisdom versus the vision of the foolish

Therefore the Lord says that such knowledge transcends knowledge gained from the gross. Everybody can gain knowledge from gross happenings. The point of view of the jivatma depends on the meanings he attributes to those happenings and on his basic values.

Little one, when the eyes derive their sight from the mind, they become the vision of the mind. When eyes perceive through knowledge, they become the eyes of wisdom. The luminescence of all vision is derived from the meaning attributed to the phenomena witnessed.

The meaning you attribute to an object will depend on the value you place on it. Love has a very different connotation for one who is attached to sense objects – but it will have a very different meaning for the renunciate who has relinquished the body idea. So also life and death bear very different connotations for the foolish and for the man of wisdom. Their basic understanding will be radically different.

If one witnesses this truth with the eyes of knowledge and with detachment, one will be able to gauge the mysterious depths of the Atma. A detached vision devoid of any aberration will clearly discern the cycle of life and death and the interplay of the attributes. The fusion of the Atma and the seeds of actions is also an integral aspect of the interplay of attributes.

Little one, if you understand the reality of the Atma,

1. You will no longer view life as a distressing problem.

2. You will always smile at life’s happenings.

3. You will also be able to laugh at yourself.

4. Your own body, mind and intellect will become subjects of entertainment.

5. You will never be worried about yourself.

6. Why bother about this body with which you will inevitably part one day?

7. Why this attachment with the body which is not yours and which you are not?