पुरुषोत्तमयोगPuruṣottama Yoga
"They speak of an eternal Aśvattha tree with its roots above and its branches below..."
The Metaphor of Saṃsāra
Cut down this tree with the
Axe of Detachment.
The roots are high up in the Supreme (Brahman), and the branches (human activities and senses) reach down into the material world. Its leaves are the Vedic hymns.
"To go beyond the cycle of birth, one must cut this deep-rooted tree of attachment with the strong weapon of detachment."
Verse 15.03The Self-Luminous Goal
"The sun does not illuminate it, nor the moon, nor fire. That is My Supreme Abode, reaching which they do not return."
The Hierarchy of Existence
Kshara, Akshara, and the Supreme
Kshara
The Perishable
All living beings and material forms that change, decay, and ultimately die in the material world.
Akshara
The Imperishable
The unchangeable, silent spiritual soul (Jiva) that sits as a witness within all beings.
Puruṣottama
The Supreme Person
Higher than both the perishable body and the imperishable soul. The sustainer of the three worlds.