The nature of Light is to reveal objects, by illumining them. But Real Illumination is the property of the Atman only. The Sun and Fire can only 'penetrate' Darkness: They do not destroy it completely, because Darkness and their Light are opposed to each other. But, the effulgence of the Atman has no opposition at all; all objects, all natures are favourable to it. It illumines all. Hence the statement: 'Tham Devaa Jyothishaam Jyothih'. 'The Gods acclaim It as the Light of Lights'.

Its form is Jnana, Wisdom; not things, like the physical body. The body is ever-changing; it is not eternal. The Atman shines equally everywhere and illumines everything without any distinction. It is of the nature of Ananda and of Chaithanya. So, it becomes automatically Brahmam! This conviction is the essence of Jnana.

He who sees a pot can know that it is a pot clearly, by himself, is it not? But, how is it that one identifies oneself with the body, simply because, attachment makes one feel that it is one's own body? This is the Ajnana; the My-ness, the I-consciousness. Jnana which is of the nature of the Atman is indestructible; Ajnana of the nature of the Body is destructible.

The Atman is Formless; hence, the Three-fold Affliction, the 'Thaapathraya' does not affect It. The Six-fold Mutation will not affect It, for, it is always Sath, always It and It alone. It is a guest, distinct from the Body which It inhabits. The Body is subject to illness, growth and decay. The Atman is free from all mutations. The Atman has no desires, impulses or intentions. It is above and beyond the Thamasic, Rajasic, and Sathwic qualities. The Prakrithi is the Doer: Purusha is as the lotus on the water, unaffected, unattached; "Prakrithih karthaa, Purushasthu pushkara palaasavannirlepah".

The Atman is misleadingly denoted by the word, I, Aham. How can the seen be the seer, the eternal? How can the body be the real I? When this mistake is made there can be no peace and no joy. It is only when this truth is understood and experienced that one can have Santhi.