Katha Upanishad 2.10
intermediate
जानाम्यहं शेवधिरित्यनित्यं न ह्यध्रुवैः प्राप्यते हि ध्रुवं तत्। ततो मया नाचिकेतश्चितोऽग्निरनित्यैर्द्रव्यैः प्राप्तवानस्मि नित्यम्॥
jānāmyahaṃ śevadhirityaniytaṃ na hyadhruvaiḥ prāpyate hi dhruvaṃ tat | tato mayā nāciketaścito'gniranityairdravyaiḥ prāptavānasmi nityam ||
"Yama continued: "I know that treasure is impermanent. The eternal cannot be reached through non-eternal things. Yet I built the Nachiketa fire with impermanent materials and attained the relatively permanent.""
What This Means:
Yama reflects: worldly treasures are impermanent. The truly eternal can't be reached through temporary things. Yet even he used ritual (temporary) to reach higher states.
Going Deeper:
This shows the limitation of even heavenly attainments. Ritual brings higher results but not ultimate liberation.
How To Apply This:
Religious practices have their place but can't grant the eternal. Use them as stepping stones, not final goals.
#impermanence#ritual#eternal