This manifest time is the ocean of creatures.

But _brahma_ exists before and after time.[24] As an example of the best style of the Upanishads we will cite a favorite passage (given no less than four times in various versions) where the doctrine of absorption is most distinctly taught under the form of a tale.

It is the famous DIALOGUE OF Y[=A]JNAVALKYA AND M[=A]ITREY[=I].[25] Y[=a]jnavalkya had two wives, M[=a]itrey[=i] and K[=a]ty[=a]yani.

Now M[=a]itrey[=i] was versed in holy knowledge (_brahma_), but K[=a]ty[=a]yani had only such knowledge as women have.

But when Y[=a]jnavalkya was about to go away into the forest (to become a hermit), he said: 'M[=a]itrey[=i], I am going away from this place.