Existence, birth, growth, change, decay (and) destruction,
These six phenomenal becomings which move about here are no other than the actionless Self.
Commentary
These six phenomenal becomings are what constitutes the life history of an individual living in the relative world. Without the actionless Self there would be no phenomenal becoming. Take away the Self and all else is taken away. It is the Self which is the true reality and essence behind phenomenal becoming as the Atmajnanopadesavidhi (II. 14) declares, "Then the Self which is without all the transformations becomes the illuminator of action." A vivid picture is also painted in the Chulika Upanishad (verse 8): "All beings disappear, and having disappeared again become manifest, and then again and again disappear like bubbles."