Chapter 26 draws a sharp distinction between the eternal Self and the temporary physical world. It teaches that the nature of the Self is "self-luminous and eternal," whereas the physical world is described as merely "a play and a marvel of Maya." The text explains that all objects in the universe are, in reality, unmanifest and woven into the soul, but they appear to be manifest and separate due to illusion. This chapter uses the analogy of a dream, which seems real but vanishes upon waking, to illustrate how the perceived world dissolves when one awakens to true knowledge through the Guru's grace. Ultimately, it posits that the world has no independent existence outside the Self.
Based on Chapter 26, how does the text differentiate between our true Self and the physical world we perceive?
📖 Chapter 26