In the vast expanse of Hindu philosophy, the notion that personalities come and go while a singular, eternal essence persists is a profound and recurring theme. This wisdom is encapsulated in various sayings and teachings of Hindu sages, who have explored the nature of existence, the self, and the ultimate reality, or Brahman.
The Eternal Self (Atman)
Hindu sages often speak of the Atman, the true self, which
is eternal and unchanging. While individual identities and personalities are
subject to birth, change, and death, the Atman remains constant. As the
Bhagavad Gita states:
Bhagavad Gita (2:20): "The soul is neither born, and
nor does it die. It has not come into being, does not come into being, and will
not come into being. It is unborn, eternal, ever-existing, and primeval. It is
not slain when the body is slain."
This verse highlights the permanence of the Atman amidst the
transient nature of the physical world.
The Concept of Maya
Hindu sages also introduce the concept of Maya, the illusion
or appearance of the phenomenal world. Personalities and individual identities
are seen as products of Maya, which veil the true nature of reality. Adi
Shankaracharya, a prominent philosopher and theologian, articulated this
beautifully:
Adi Shankaracharya: "Brahman is the truth, the world is
an illusion, and there is ultimately no difference between Brahman and the
individual self."
Shankaracharya's teachings emphasize that what we perceive
as individual personalities are mere illusions, and behind this illusion lies
the singular, unchanging reality of Brahman.
The Cycle of Samsara
The cycle of Samsara, or the cycle of birth, death, and
rebirth, further illustrates the transient nature of personalities. The
individual self, bound by karma, undergoes countless births and deaths,
assuming different forms and personalities. However, the underlying Atman
remains untouched by these changes.
Katha Upanishad (2:2:13): "The Self is not born, nor
does it die. It did not come from anywhere, nor was it anything. Unborn,
eternal, permanent, and primeval, it is not killed when the body is
killed."
This passage reinforces the idea that the core essence
remains unchanged despite the perpetual flux of individual existences.
The One Unchanging Reality
Ultimately, the teachings of Hindu sages converge on the
realization of Brahman, the ultimate reality that transcends all dualities and
distinctions. Brahman is described as infinite, eternal, and beyond all
attributes. Personalities, with their distinct characteristics, are seen as
mere reflections or manifestations of this singular reality.
Mandukya Upanishad (7): "That which is not conscious of
the internal world, nor conscious of the external world, nor conscious of both,
nor a mass of consciousness, nor simple consciousness, nor unconsciousness;
unseen, transcendent, incomprehensible, unthinkable, indescribable, essentially
of the nature of Consciousness constituting the Self alone, the negation of all
phenomena, the peaceful, all-blissful, the One without a second, this is what
is known as the fourth (Turiya). This is the Atman, and it has to be
realized."
In this profound description, the Upanishad points to a
reality that is beyond all transient forms and identities, a reality that is
the essence of all that exists.
The sayings of Hindu sages offer deep insights into the nature of existence and the eternal essence that underlies all personalities. While personalities appear and disappear, they are mere waves on the ocean of the unchanging, infinite reality of Brahman. Understanding and realizing this truth is central to the spiritual journey in Hinduism, leading to liberation (moksha) from the cycle of birth and death.