The material universe is transient, in the sense, ever-changing. All gross matter- physical, chemical, biological, etc. are transient, in the sense that they come under the law of 'entropy'. They possess a quality that makes them change with time. These qualities are the qualities of nature (prakruti), hence, acquired ones and, not their basic ones. The physical gross matter is the outcome of the manifest brahman, i.e. the eternal, formless, and unchanging! The basic nature (mula svaroopa) is subtler-most and invisible. There are several stages- from an invisible wave and vibration, sound, syllables, word and its meaning and the gross products- solid, liquid, gas and the plasma. This ever-changing nature is the transient. Everything on this earth, including the planet,is transient. Everything changes from second to second and minute to minute. The forms undergo remarkable changes over time. Nothing can stop this change. Further, all these deteriorate and attain their original nameless, formless, function-less invisible state.
The 'transcendental' is the 'one beyond'. Here, the existential 'reality' is beyond the threshold, the border, the boundary. It is a state where all vibration stops. It is the natural state. All that exist in gross diverse material forms have manifested from this base. However, this base is not the one with any quality, form or function. It is subtle, almost potent and not yet become kinetic, almost static and not yet become dynamic. As humans, we all see that is kinetic, dynamic and the functional. We cannot dwell deep in that state unless we cross the threshold!
The yogins who wanted to know the truth, the reality of existence, tried the yogic path and reached the core of the existence. They realized the existence of several boundaries and tried to cross them, one by one, and transcend all limitations. These limitations are time, space and causality. Once the yogins crossed the basic three levels of bhu, bhuvah and svah, as ell as, the muladhara, svadhishthana and the manipura plexus of consciousness which represent the earth (soil/food), water, and fire (ethereal/pranic) principles, the yogin reaches the aerial (vayu tattva, clairvoyant state).
The transcendental state is thus one of 'beyond the senses and mind. Here the senses are withdrawn from their external wanderings and the mind is stilled (at rest). The yogic trance is the state where the yogin is deeply involved with the abstract, non-material, divine and the other-worldly (paramarthika) seeking redemption from the cycle of rebirths. The path suggested by Patanjali, Shandilya, Bhagavan Shree Krishna are jnyana, viveka, vairagya and yajnya, dana tapas. This way, the yogi chants the name of his choicest mantra and the devata and rests in peace with. This leads to samadhi. This is the first step toward attaining liberation, salvation, mukti or moksha- the very purpose of life, purushartha sadhanam. After all, who wants to appear in different gross forms and suffer transient states?
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