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## The Vision of the Knower: Detachment and Trikala Viragya
(533) The knower has nothing to do with anything. Therefore, to consider the self in the worthless, illusory objects of enjoyment is wrong. To run after them with the desire for their attainment is also wrong, because what is not one's own can never be obtained, and one can never be satisfied by it. And since it is completely worthless and illusory, the knower, without identifying with it, remains detached, and even when passing through it, does not get immersed in it. Therefore, the knower, who understands the illusory nature of these objects, like a mirage, does not get immersed in them. Even if the karmic fruits of enjoyment come upon him, he passes through them effortlessly and without attachment.
Here, although enjoyment is called "illusory," it does not mean that it has no existence. The word "illusory" here means that although it exists, it is ultimately worthless. Just as there is no water in a mirage, and running after it yields nothing, similarly, there is no self in the objects of enjoyment, and running after them does not benefit the self. Or, "illusory" means not non-existent, but false. Because, in relation to the self, the objects of enjoyment are false, i.e., they are not the self. The self has nothing to do with these objects, yet the ignorant self, identifying with them, gets entangled and bound by the desires and aversions arising from them. But the liberated knower, who is free from desires, does not identify with them, and does not get entangled or bound by them.
The implication here is that the knower, who understands the illusory and worthless nature of these objects, like a mirage, even when experiencing the fruits of past karma, remains detached and attains the ultimate state. The true knower never gets entangled in the mire of enjoyment, like a lotus in water, remaining untouched and completely indifferent. This is called "anasakti yoga" in the Gita.
"Abandoning the mire of enjoyment, he sits above, like a lotus in water; like a lion, he is fearless in his own mind, the support of all the three worlds. Blessed is the sage who walks with equanimity." - Sa, Tr, Ga, St.
The reason why the knower can maintain this detached and non-attached attitude is that he knows with certainty and constantly remembers that these objects are not the self.