To grasp the subtle and the esoteric, a leap in understanding is necessary. The Taittiriya Upanishad stresses the importance of faith in this quest to become aware of the absolute truth, pointed out Velukkudi Sri Krishnan in a discourse.
The body-soul dichotomy is the basis of the teaching which explains the five sheaths or kosas enveloping the self — anna or food; prana or life; manas or instinctive or perceptual consciousness; vijnana or intelligence; and ananda or bliss. The natural state of the self which is the essence of jnana and ananda is elusive and deep within the other sheaths.
Rishis and realised souls are aware of this truth, but the jivatma is totally unaware of its true and natural state of bliss as it is bound by samsara. It is submerged in the darkness of ignorance as a result of individual karma through countless births. Krishna makes it clear that the greatest obstacle in this spiritual path is ajnana or ignorance which can be destroyed with jnana alone. Jnana reveals the absolute truth as clearly as the bright sun reveals objects in this world that are enveloped in darkness. But the jivatma’s effort to gain jnana is beset with hurdles in many forms of conflicting theories, uncertainties and doubts. The atma has to cognise its own brilliance and bliss. It is like the moon which has to see itself as bright after removing the clouds by its own effort.
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At the intellectual level, truth is validated with proofs. But at a higher level, truths become revealed and this depends on the steadfast faith in the Lord’s helping hand. Faith, straightforwardness and truth, help the jivatma at this stage to realise the subtle nature of the atma which has to attain Brahma Jnana.