23. Soul is Unmanifested

 


Krishna tells Arjuna that atma/soul is unmanifested, inconceivable and unchangeable (2.25). It goes through the stages of childhood, youth and old age of this body so does it pass into another body (2.13). Krishna concludes that once we are aware of this, there is no need to grieve for the physical body. All the beings are unmanifest before their birth, they manifest between their birth and death and once again unmanifest after their death (2.28).

Many cultures use the ocean and wave analogy to explain the same. The ocean represents the unmanifest and the wave represents the manifest. Waves arise from the ocean for some period, and they manifest in different sizes, shapes, intensities etc. Finally waves merge back into the ocean from where they arose. Our indriyas (senses) can only sense the manifest i.e. waves.

Similarly, a seed holds the potential to grow into a tree. In the seed, the tree is present in its unmanifested form. It becomes manifested when it starts growing into a tree. It ultimately dies after producing many seeds.

Manifested is that which indriyas, with their limited capabilities, can sense. Scientific instruments like X-ray etc. are meant for the enhancement of the capabilities of our indriyas. A microscope/telescope is used to enhance the ability of the eyes to magnify. An X-ray machine enables eye to see things in different frequencies of light.

Krishna says this (unmanifest) is inconceivable; which means that our indriyas even if aided by scientific instruments, won’t help us to perceive this. The mind is also incapable of conceiving the unmanifest, as the mind is nothing but the combination of indriyas.

Like all of us, Arjuna identifies himself with the human body, as he has no realisation or experience beyond that. Krishna tries to bring about a paradigm shift in Arjuna’s thinking by enlightening him about the unmanifested. It took the Lord himself to make a scholar like Arjuna understand this and hence we are no exception.


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