This verse gives the vision of “seers of truth” — It is the beginning of instruction by the Lord to the living entities who are bewildered by influence of ignorance
Of the non-existent (material body) there is no endurance
Of the eternal (the soul) there is no change
aDifference between matter (body) and spirit
Body – Modern science admits that the body is changing at every moment
Spirit – Spirit soul exists permanently despite all changes of body and mind
All opinions agree – This conclusion is established by all classes of seers of truth – both Impersonalists and personalists
Supporting Reference – Ref. Vishnu Purana – “Vishnu and His abodes all have self- illuminated spiritual existences”. The words existent and non-existent refer only to spirit and matter
bInfluence of ignorance — Living entities are bewildered and identify themselves with the body or mind. Two kinds of ignorance/misgivings are:
Identifying oneself as God
cRemoval of ignorance — It involves:
Re-establish relationship – Re-establishment of the eternal relationship of the worshiper and worshipable
Correct understanding of duality – Consequent understanding of the difference between the part and parcel living entities and the Supreme Personality of Godhead FOCUS OF LEARNING: PURPORT 2.16 continued…
dUnderstanding the nature of the Supreme
One can understand by through study of oneself, the difference between oneself and the Supreme being understood as the relationship between the part and the whole
Supreme has been accepted as the source of all emanations in the Vedanta sutras and the Srimad Bhagavatam
Living entities belong to the superior nature (Ref. Bg. 7.5)
Although there is a difference between energy and energetic, the energetic is accepted as the Supreme and energy or nature is accepted as the subordinate
This implies the living entities are always subordinate, just like ‘master and servant’, or ‘teacher and taught’
ePurpose of Bhagavad-gita
To drive away all ignorance (Refer to second point of this purport)
Enlightenment of all living entities for all time to come SUMMARISED THEME 2C CHARACTERISTICS OF THE SOUL (2.17 – 2.25)
1Eternally an individual (2.12) identity and part and parcel of the Supreme
2Soul is unborn (2.21) and does not take birth
3Soul is indestructable and eternal (2.18) and therefore never dies
4Soul is immeasurable (2.18) — It is too small to be measured by any material means
Ref. Svetasvatara Upanisad – 1/10,000th tip of a hair (2.17 purport)
5Soul never undergoes changes
Soul is steady (2.20) – does not undergo six changes like the body
Immutable – (2.21 & 2.25)
Never changes like matter - Unlike body which goes through six changes (2.25 purport)
Never become God - Soul always remains atomic to Infinite Supreme (2.25 purport)
Cannot be cut, burnt, dried or wet (2.23)
Immovable, unchangeable, everlasting and eternally the same (2.24)
Situated in the region of the heart (2.17 & 2.22 & Mundaka Upanishad)
Present everywhere (Sarva-Gata) (2.24) – Living entities are also present in sun and fire
7How to perceive the soul
Soul is invisible and inconceivable (2.25) – No human experiements can conceive the soul
Symptom of the soul– Soul is perceived by ‘individual consciousness’ (2.17 purport)
The only proof for the soul– Vedic scriptures – Sruti (2.25 purport)
8Influence of soul — Pervades entire body (Mundaka Upanishad)
Analogy: Like sun pervades entire universe and maintains, similarly light of soul maintains the material body
Analogy: Active principle of medicine spreads all over the body
9Effect on life airs on the soul — Soul is surrounded by 5 kinds of life airs
Hatha Yoga – helps in liberation