Samkhya Yoga - Part 5 - Consciousness

Chapter 2 /part 5

The Consciousness: The ultimate Truth: The Bhagavad Gita

"That which is non-existent cannot become existent; that which is existent cannot become non-existent. The absolute secret of 'knowing' the state of existence and the state of non-existence were discovered by the seers of the ultimate truth".

"that which is non-existent cannot become existent"

This means that the non living things and as well as the bodies of living beings are not existing. In case of a human being, the soul is existent and the body is non existent. Bhagavad Gita says that it is absurd to mourn for the demise of a body.

"that which is existent cannot become non existent"

This means that the ever existent soul cannot become non existent at any cost. Soul is eternal and there is no point in worrying about soul.

State of existence and the state of non-existence

The consciousness and matter (soul and body) are the two components regarding existence. Consciousness (soul or athma or Brahma) is having the capability of knowing or experiencing its own existence and the existence of others. Matters do not have this capability. This is the reason that matter is referred as dead matter. A living body (matter) becomes aware of its existence, only because of the presence of consciousness. So it can become aware of others existence also.

It can be found out that consciousness is the only fundamental object  in the universe. All the substances (matter) are seen as 'names and forms' on the consciousness. Even if we feel the existence of substances, there is no existence for them without the presence of consciousness. When searched for a basic component or a fundamental object behind all the substances, only the consciousness was found out. Even the modern science also comes into the conclusion that all the substances are ultimately nothing but energy. So energy is the subtle form of matter. But there should be a non vibrating (static) substratum for the energy to vibrate from. Ancient Rishis found out that the consciousness is the substratum for prana spandana (energy vibration). Only because of the prana spandana (energy vibration), the whole universe is seen, as an illusion. All the substances in the visible universe are just 'names and forms' on the conscious plane.

Consciousness or soul is the only object that really exists and matter does not exist, indeed. The consciousness is the causal object of the whole universe. Matters are filled in by the causal object. The dead matters are seen, in the universe, just as 'names and forms'. Every object has a name and a form. The names and forms are appeared on the substratum (consciousness) just like different scenes in a screen. The consciousness or soul is without any ruin. It has no end. So it has no beginning. As it is so, no one can destroy the indestructible soul or consciousness. So Krishna declares that no need to worry either about body or soul. 

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