The world that we see with these eyes is a relative world. A person may be a father, son, husband, boss to his subordinate, and at the same time, a subordinate to his boss.
Really, who is he?

Is he really a father or a son? In reality, is he a boss or an assistant? No, it is all relative.
To his father, he is the son, and for his son, he is the father. So, who is he in reality, then?
Is he the body that was 3 kgs in weight during his birth, but which is right now relatively quite high. His appearance too is changing as he’s aging.

So who is he really… the younger one or the older one? What is the truth?
His body, appearance, relationships, status, everything is constantly changing. It means just like one knows the people around relatively, one recognizes his own self also relatively.
Then, what is reality?

Also, the truth we talk about in this worldly life is relative!
When two people are on either side of a chair, one says that the chair is on the left, while the other states that it is on the right side. So, is the chair really on the left or the right? What is the truth?

Both the persons are right from their perspectives.
Similarly, when a person saves a rat being chased by a cat, he seems to have helped the rat; however, the cat is left hungry. So, did he do a good job or a bad one?
Thus, the truth is all relative. Every person sees the truth from their viewpoint. But when he claims that it is the real truth, it ends up in clashes with all those around him.
The whole world is suffering only due to the lack of understanding of the 'Absolute truth,' and therefore, worldly life seems to be a puzzle.

There are two ways to solve the mystery:
Real viewpoint and
Relative viewpoint.
The Real viewpoint is permanent and the relative viewpoint is subject to a constant change. So, once we realize the Absolute truth, the relative worldly life can be lived smoothly.

Let's understand the absolute truth.
The absolute truth in this world is that there are six eternal elements in this universe that are permanent.
Each eternal element has a unique function of its own.
The first is the Self (Atma), the function of which is to see and know.

Second, there is jad (the eternal element of inanimate matter). It comprises of the innumerable parmanus (the smallest, indivisible, and indestructible particle of inanimate matter), which when come together, takes different forms that keep changing moment to moment.
The third is called dharmastikaya (the eternal element of motion), the function of which is to enable movement.
Now, if only the element of motion existed, then if one were to leave from here, he would never come to a stop. Hence, to make one still, there is sthithisahayak (the eternal element of inertia).

The fifth eternal element is akash (space), in which every eternal element seeks out space.
The sixth one is the eternal element called kaal (time). And time actually comes with its own atoms of time (kaalanu).
These six eternal elements exist in every living being. Of the six, the pure Soul is the real Self of every living being. Be it within a donkey, a dog, or an individual, the Soul has not changed even for a moment.

These six elements are ‘Real’. Only that which is eternal is Real, and everything in the form of a mixture that arose from the coming together of these eternal elements is relative. The proximity of the two elements, namely inanimate matter and the Self, gives rise to ego, which is nothing but a set of wrong beliefs of 'I am this, I am that', created out of illusion.

When a Gnani (the Enlightened One), with his spiritual powers, enables us to attain the elemental form of our real Self, by separating the Soul and the other mixture of five eternal elements within, we realize the absolute truth in this relative world. This is called Self-Realization. The Self is the Absolute Truth. And the Gnani from whom we realize this absolute truth is known as a ‘Bhed Vignani i.e. the One who separates the Self and all other five eternal elements.

After Self-Realization, all that we need to do is keep following Gnani’s words; this itself will lead us to the experience of the Absolute truth one day.
Please visit: https://www.dadabhagwan.org/self-realization/

Author's Bio: 

Ambalal M. Patel was a civil contractor by profession. In June 1958, spontaneous Self-Realization occurred within Ambalal M. Patel. From this point on, Ambalal became a Gnani Purush, and the Lord that manifest within him became known as Dada Bhagwan. A Gnani Purush is One who has realized the Self and is able help others do the same. Param Pujya Dada Bhagwan used to go from town to town and country-to-country to give satsang (spiritual discourse) and impart the knowledge of the Self, as well as knowledge of harmonious worldly interactions to everyone who came to meet him. This spiritual science, known as Akram Vignan, is the step-less path to Self-realization.