OM! Philosophy of Desire II by Swami Sivananda

Philosophy of Desire II

by Swami Sivananda

Extract from the book

Jnana Yoga - Swami Sivananda

What is desire

Desire is an impulse (conative) towards an object. It is kept alive by imagination of the object such as 'Oh, how beautiful it is,' etc.

Desire is an earnest longing for attaining some object or goal. It is a wish to enjoy an object. An urge to attain something is desire.

Desire to see has become the eyes; desire to hear has become the ears; desire to taste has become the tongue; desire to smell has become the nose; desire to touch has become the skin; desire to work has become the hand; desire to speak has become the organ of speech; desire to walk has become the feet; desire to copulate has become the organ of reproduction. Desire is the root cause for this mundane life.

Desires are the conative tendencies of your instincts. An instinct is an involuntary prompting to action. In the light of Vedanta philosophy, desire is born of Avidya or ignorance. There are neither desires, nor cravings, nor longings in Brahman. It is ever pure and transcendent. It is not touched by even a trace of desire. It is absolutely free from Maya or Mala (impurities of desire).

When you think of an object, you feel a sort of stirring within you. There is an impulse to action in order to achieve the desired object. A desire arises to attain the object. Then there is Cheshta or Prayatna (effort). You begin to think in a clear and definite form as to how to possess the object. by the force of mere thought of an object, a tendency or hidden subtle Vasana is stirred to action. The senses of action begin to work. You obtain the object and enjoy it.

The wheel of Vasana and Samskara

Vasana is a subtle form of desire. It is hidden desire. Vasanas assume the form of desire which is gross. Trishna is intense craving or hankering after sensual objects. Vasana is intermingled with Samskaras or impressions. Vasanas produce Samskaras (impressions) and Samskaras in turn generate Vasanas. The rotation of this never-ending wheel of Vasana and Samskara constitutes the Samsara Chakra which causes births and deaths.

Impulses 
  
Impulses are of three kinds, viz., impulse of thought, impulse of speech and impulse of action.

Impulse, instinct, desires, cravings, are all modifications of Prakriti or Gunas. Just as the iron pieces move in the presence of magnet, the impulses, instincts, etc., derive their force or Chetana Sakti from Brahman only, the source of everything.

Abhinivesa is clinging to this earthly life. This is fear of death. This is one of the five afflictions according to Patanjali Maharshi. It is born of Avidya or ignorance. This is synonymous with Bergson's 'elan Vital,' Schopenhauer's 'will-to-live' or Jung's Libido, or Trishna of Lord Buddha. This clinging to mundane life is the cause for rebirth. This clinging should be destroyed through dispassion, discrimination and enquiry of 'who am I?'.

If you wish to withdraw yourself from the objects of senses, you will have to shut out the three different compartments in the mind which perform the conative, the cognitive and the affective processes. The mind runs outside through conation, cognition and affection. Conation is activity. Cognition is perception. Affection is love towards objects. Conation is at the root of all actions. The process of conation is done through Kriya Sakti. The process of cognition is done through Jnana Sakti. The process of affection is done through Prema Sakti.

Do not allow the mental energy to run in these directions. Through the practice of Japa, Pranayama, Pratyahara, Dama, Sama, Atmic enquiry, meditation and devotion you can fix your mind on the Lord or the Atman. 

From the Avidya Sakti desire arises to enjoy the external objects of desire. As soon as man was enveloped by the veil of ignorance, he forgot his essential blissful nature and began to run after sensual objects to seek his pleasure through the avenues of the senses. He began to exert, to do selfish Karmas, to realise his objects of desire. He lost his original freedom and became bound.  

The knots of samsara

Avidya (ignorance), Kama (desire) and Karma (action) are the knots or Hridaya Granthis that have tied the deluded Jiva to this Samsara or wheel of birth and death.

Desire is strengthened by hope and anticipation and repetition. 

Desire consists of three parts, viz., attachment (Aasakti), longing (Kamana) and preference. If you remove attachment through dispassion, discrimination and enquiry, longing will die by itself. Preference may remain for some time. It will also perish through discrimination. Therefore remove attachment first. Cultivate dispassion and discriminate between the real and the unreal. Persist in your enquiry. There are three sorts of attachment, viz., attachment to a person, or an object or a place.
You may have a preference to coffee or tea, brinjal or potatoes and the like. However nice may be a Hindustani food preparation, a Madrasi or a Bengali or a Punjabi will have preference to his own dishes. It takes a long time to destroy this preference.

Every action is an outcome of some motive. Motive is nothing but some instinctive impulse or combination of two or more impulses.

Any activity is an endeavour to attain a goal. There is a vital impulse or urge to action. The conative process works in man.
There are the reproductive instinct, the pairing or sexual instinct, the instinct of self-preservation, the instinct of escape or shrinking from injury, instinct of combat, instinct of curiosity, herding instinct, instinct of repulsion, instinct of attraction, the parental instinct, instinct of assertion, instinct of laughter, the Bania or Vaishya instinct through which one exploits and amasses wealth for his own comforts, the instinct of lordliness through which man tries to lord or domineer over others, and the destructive instinct through which he tries to destroy others who are more powerful and influential than him.

Man wishes to have children to maintain the race or line. This is reproductive instinct or Putra Ishana. Desire to copulate proceeds from the sexual instinct. The strength of the sexual desire depends upon the intensity of sexual impulse. Impulse is a mighty force. It exerts influence on the mind. It is a force suddenly communicated to the mind. The sexual impulse is controlled by Japa, Pranayama, meditation, pure food and Atmic enquiry.

Man wants to preserve himself. Hunger is a self-preservative instinct. In time of danger, he wants to save himself from the impending danger. This is the instinct of escape. He wishes to fight when he is insulted. This is the instinct of combat. He wants to know about things. This is the instinct of curiosity. He wants company for talking. He wants to have a community of his own. This is the herding instinct. He has an inherent attraction or repulsion for certain persons or objects. This is the instinct of attraction and repulsion. He wants to assert himself, My view alone is correct. I can do anything and everything. I am intelligent. I am a high class Brahmin. I am a scholar. This is the self-assertive Rajasic instinct or the instinct of assertion. He has special inborn affection and love for his children. He fondles and caresses them. This is parental instinct. There is the instinct to retaliate.

According to Gita impulse is Vegam or force. Lord Krishna says, He who is able to endure here on earth before he is liberated from the body, the force born of desire and passion, he is harmonised, he is a happy man (V-23).

Just as the petrol or steam moves the engine, the instincts and impulses move this body. The instincts are the prime movers of all human activities. They give a push to the body and move the Indriyas to action. The instincts create habits. The instinctive impulses supply the driving power by which all mental activities are kept up. These impulses are mental forces. They mould the life of a man. The mystery of life lies in them. These impulses operate through the mind and the intellect.

If you withdraw the fuel, the steam engine will cease working. If you remove the main spring of a watch, the watch will not work. If you do not supply petrol to a motor car and an aeroplane, they will not work. Even so this body will stop working and become inert and motionless if the instinctive impulses are taken away from the organism.

Conquest of desires is conquest of mind, because mind is nothing but a bundle of desires.  

Annihilation of desires alone is Liberation (Moksha). The state of desirelessness is the highest Nirvikalpa Samadhi. 

Desire is a dire enemy of peace, devotion and knowledge.

If you entertain a desire to possess an object, then only the object gives you pleasure. Therefore desire is the cause of pleasures.

Woman in herself is not handsome for man. She is beautiful only in proportion to man's desire for her. A passionate man only sees Urvasi's beauty even in the brow of an ugly woman. A sage or a man of discrimination has neither attraction nor desire for woman. A beautiful woman loses all charm and becomes an object of repulsion after coital orgasm, when the sex impulse is at its lowest ebb in man. 

Beauty is a mental Kalpana only. What is beautiful for one is not so for another. The man projects his own idea of beauty in the woman and sees highest beauty even in an ugly woman. This is all due to the working of the mischievous mind which creates hell in heaven and heaven in hell.

Control the senses first. Destroy the desires through discrimination, meditation and Atmic enquiry and rest in the desireless Satchidananda Brahman.

May you be established in your native, pristine state of divine glory and splendour which is beyond the reach of Gunas, senses, mind and intellect, wherein there is neither urge nor impulse nor instinct, neither conation, nor cognition, nor affection, neither desire, Vasana or Trishna, wherein you enjoy perfect peace, bliss and joy through meditation and Nirvikalpa Samadhi.

Peace  love  harmony

Atman is Distinct from the Pancha Koshas (five bodies) by Swami Sivananda

Atman is Distinct from the Pancha Koshas
(Consciousness is distinct from the five bodies)

by Swami Sivananda

Extract from the book

Jnana Yoga - Swami Sivananda

Atman is distinct from the five Koshas or sheaths.

The five sheaths are:

1.      Annamaya Kosha (food-sheath),

2.      Pranamaya Kosha (vital sheath),

3.      Manomaya Kosha (mental sheath),

4.      Vijnanamaya Kosha (intellect-sheath)

5.      and Anandamaya Kosha (blissful sheath).

'Maya' means full. 'Kosha' means sheath.

Just as the scabbard hides the sword, the outer shell covers the tamarind fruit, the coat covers the body, so also these five sheaths hide the Atman. Hence the significant name Kosha. Just as the Kosakar worm gets itself bound in its nest, so also the Jiva gets himself bound within the Koshas.

Annamaya Kosha – physical sheath

Annamaya Kosha is this gross body. This is the densest sheath. This is generated by a combination of Shukla and Sonita (semen and female seed). It is born of food because semen is manufactured out of food only. The body is nourished by food. It dies without food. It gets itself merged in the Annamaya earth after death. It is the seat for the experience of pleasure and pain. It is subject to six changes (Shad-bhava-vikara, viz., birth, existence, growth, change, decay and death). Hence the name Annamaya Kosha.

The Annamaya Kosha forms the gross body. The Pranamaya, Manomaya, Vijnanamaya Koshas go to constitute the subtle or astral body or Linga Sarira. The Anandamaya Kosha forms the causal body or Karana Sarira. The five Karma Indriyas are contained in the Pranamaya Kosha. The five Jnana Indriyas are contained in the Manomaya Kosha.

Just as the clouds which are generated by the rays of the sun, and which exist only on account of the sun cover the sun, just as the smoke which has its existence through fire conceals the fire, just as the snake in the rope which owes its existence to the rope hides the rope, just as the jar which exists on account of the clay conceals the clay, just as the ear-rings which owe their existence to the gold hide the gold, the five Koshas which owe their very existence to the Atman cover the very Atman.

It is the innate tendency of the human mind to identify the Self with the five Koshas. This is due to ignorance (Avidya) only. This is due to Adhyasa or superimposition. The ignorant man of dull intellect identifies the Self with the physical body. Others identify the Self or Atman with Prana, mind, intellect, or the Karana Sarira according to their various grades of intelligence. The Atman transcends the five sheaths. It is entirely distinct from the five sheaths. You will have to pierce through these five sheaths if you want to get knowledge of the Self. These five sheaths form a cave (Guha) and the Atman is hidden in the cave. The self-effulgent Atman shines in the midst of Pranas within the heart. A detailed knowledge and comprehensive understanding of the five sheaths is an indispensable requisite, if you want to attain Self-realisation and practise the 'Neti-neti' doctrine of Vedanta.

Annamaya sheath or physical body.

The following arguments will prove clearly that the Atman is entirely distinct from the Annamaya sheath or physical body. The physical body is a mass of skin, flesh, blood, bones and lots of other filthy things. It can never be eternally pure, self-existent Brahman. It does not exist prior to birth or posterior to death. It lasts only for a short period. It is full of parts. It is ever changing. It has a beginning and an end. It is inert. It is the effect of Tamoguna. It is the combination of five elements. How can it be one's own Self, the silent witness of changes in all things?

There is no consciousness in a dead body. If the gross body is the Self or Atman, the corpse also would be as conscious as the living body. The physical body is dead as it were during the dreaming state. The physical body is not eternal. It disintegrates after death. As the physical body has a beginning and an end, it is an effect like the jar. The body cannot be the Self, because one continues to live even when particular limbs are gone, even when his legs and hands are amputated. That the Self is entirely different from the body, its characteristics, activities and states of which it is the silent witness is self-evident and needs no demonstration or proof. How can the inert body, being a pack of bones, covered with flesh and full of filth, and highly impure, he the self-luminous, self-existent, intelligent Self, the Knower, which is ever distinct from it?

The foolish man identifies himself with a mass of flesh, fat, skin, bones and filth, while the man of discrimination knows that his Self is distinct from this perishable body. The stupid man thinks that he is the body. A Pundit who has read some religious books identifies himself with a mixture of body and soul, while the liberated sage regards the eternal, unchanging Atman as his Self. So long as the learned Pundit does not abandon his erroneous identification with this unreal, perishable body, there is no hope of salvation for him, even though he is a scholar in Vedanta. The identification with the physical body alone is the root cause which brings the misery of birth and death and its concomitant evils. Therefore destroy at once this identification. There will be no more chance for rebirths. O ignorant worldly man! Give up Moha for this physical body of filth, flesh and hones. Identify yourself with the pure Brahman, the Self of all and thus attain Immortality and everlasting Peace.

There is an illusory connection between Annamaya Kosha and Atman through Anyonya Adhyasa or mutual super-imposition by which the Dharmas or attributes of the former appear on the latter and the Dharmas of the latter appear on the former.

In Indian Logic there are two kinds of relationship, viz., Samavaya and Samyoga. Samavaya Sambandha is inseparable. This is the relationship that exists between a man and his limbs, a person and his qualities, the actor and his actions. There is no Samavaya Sambandha between Atman and the five Koshas. Samyoga Sambandha is the relationship that exists between a drum and the stick. There cannot be any Samyoga Sambandha between Atman and the five sheaths, as Atman is not a substance that is made up of the five elements. But the relationship that exists between Atman and the five sheaths is only the Adhyasa (illusory or superimposed) relationship that exists between a rope and a snake or between mother-of-pearl and silver or between a post in darkness and a thief, or between the sky and the blue colour. Is the illusion caused by one to another, or is it reciprocal? It must be reciprocal (Anyonya Adhyasa), because Atman and Ahamkara go hand in hand and are referred one to the other reciprocally in worldly parlance.

The mutual illusory relationship that exists between Atman and Annamaya Kosha can be clearly understood from the daily talks of men. People say: I am a man. I am a male. I live. I grow. I shall die. I am a boy. I am a grown up man. I am an old man. I am a Brahmin. I am a Kshatriya. I am a Vaishya. I am a Sudra. I am a Brahmachari. I am a householder. I am a Sannyasi. I am an Indian. I am an Englishman. I am a Pundit. I am an illiterate man. I am sick. I am poor. I am fat. I am lean. I am sickly. I am healthy. Here all the properties of Annamaya sheath are ascribed by delusion to Atman. The characteristics of Satchidananda are attributed falsely to the Annamaya Kosha as you see from such illustration: My body is. My body shines. My body is dear. You can clearly understand now that there exists a mutual illusory relationship between Atman and the Annamaya Kosha. Therefore the Atman is not Annamaya Kosha. This food-sheath is not yours. This is gross body. You are the Self. The Self is distinct from the food-sheath, because it is the Knower of the sheath.

Pranamaya Kosha –Vital sheath

The second sheath or the sheath lying next to the physical body consists of the five vital airs with the five organs of action (Karma Indriyas) and is known as Pranamaya Kosha permeated by which the Annamaya Kosha engages itself in all activities as if it were living.

There is Anyonya Adhyasa or mutual illusory relationship between Atman and the Pranamaya Kosha. The attributes of the vital sheath such as hunger and thirst are superimposed on the Self. Man generally says: I am hungry. I am thirsty. I am strong. I am brave. I walk, I talk, I give. I do actions. I am dumb. I am a lame man. I am impotent. I am weak. Here the functions of the Pranamaya Kosha are falsely attributed to Atman (the 'I'). Conversely the attributes of Atman are falsely ascribed to the vital sheath. Man generally says: My Prana is; my Prana shines; my Prana is dear to me. This is the reciprocal relationship between Atman and the Pranamaya Kosha.

Prana is Jada or inert. It is an effect of Tamoguna. It has no knowledge of itself. It cannot know others. During sleep it cannot welcome a man. It cannot stop a thief from removing his jewels. Therefore it is Jada or inert like a jar or a piece of stone. It has a beginning and an end. It cannot be self-effulgent Atman, because it is a modification of Vayu and like the air it enters into and comes out of the body, because it never knows in the least either its own weal or woe, or those of others, being eternally dependent on the Self.

The Atman is pure consciousness and is eternally distinct from the Pranamaya Kosha. You are not the Pranamaya Kosha. This is not yours also. This belongs to the subtle body. The Self is distinct from the vital sheath because it is the Knower of this sheath.

Manomaya Kosha – Mental sheath

The five organs of knowledge together with the mind constitute the Manomaya Kosha or the mental sheath. This mind is the cause for the diversity of the things such as 'I' and 'mine'. It creates egoism and mineness in house, son, wife and property. It passes outside through the avenues or channels of senses. It is powerful, it creates the difference of name, etc. It manifests itself as permeating the vital sheath. Man generally says: I think. I fancy. I am in grief. I am deluded. I am hot-tempered. I am the enjoyer, I am a sickly person. I am the desirer. I am the seer, the taster, the smeller, toucher. I am a deaf person. I am a blind man, and so on. Here the functions of the Manomaya Kosha are falsely attributed to the Atman. Conversely the characteristics of Atman are falsely ascribed to the Manomaya Kosha. Man generally says: My mind is, my mind shines and my mind is dear to me. Thus there is the reciprocal illusory relationship between Atman and the Manomaya Kosha.

There is no ignorance outside mind. The mind is Avidya. When mind is destroyed, everything else is destroyed. When the mind manifests, all else manifests. In dreams, the mind alone creates the object such as mountains, rivers, flowers, chariot, horses, driver etc. It is the subject. It is the object. In dreamless sleep it rests in the Mula Ajnana or primitive ignorance, its cause. If it were identical with consciousness, it should have continued like it even when the man enters into dreamless sleep. Mind is only Jada or inert. It is not self-luminous. It is a product of Sattva-Guna. It has a beginning and an end. It is only an instrument in the hands of the subject who is its user. It is subject to modifications. It is ever changing. It is an object. Its attributes are pleasure and pain. Therefore, it cannot be changeless, self-effulgent, pure Atman. The Atman exists even during deep sleep. This is proved by the man's remembrance in the morning to the effect that he enjoyed sound sleep the previous night and that he was aware of nothing during sleep. As only that man who had the experience can have the remembrance of an experience, we must conclude that the man who had the remembrance in the above form in the morning did exist during deep sleep and experience the bliss and the absence of knowledge remembered by him during the waking state.

Mind is associated with the Vrittis, viz., lust, anger, greed, etc. It has no steadiness. So it is a Vikari. Atman is changeless (Nirvikara) and silent witness. In reality you are the Atman. Therefore, you are not the Manomaya Kosha. It is not yours also. It belongs to the subtle body. You are distinct from the Manomaya Kosha. You are the knowing subject. The Self is distinct from the Manomaya Kosha, because it is the Knower of this sheath.

Vijnanamaya Kosha -  Intellect sheath

Buddhi or intellect with its modifications and the five organs of knowledge, having the characteristics of the agent constitutes the Vijnanamaya Kosha or the knowledge-sheath. In deep sleep, it gets involved along with the reflected intelligence (Chidabhasa). The knowledge sheath is highly luminous on account of its close proximity to the Paramatman.

Man generally says: I am the agent. I am a man of firm determination. I am a man of intelligence. I am a learned man. I can understand everything beautifully. I can remove the doubts of others. I know the Vedas. I am a wise man. Here the functions of the Vijnanamaya Kosha are falsely ascribed to Atman. Conversely the attributes of Atman are falsely attributed to the Vijnanamaya Kosha. Man says: My Buddhi is, my Buddhi shines and my Buddhi is dear to me. Thus there exits a reciprocal illusory relationship between Atman and the intellectual sheath.

This knowledge-sheath cannot be the self-effulgent pure Atman, because it is subject to change, it has a beginning and an end; it is an effect of Sattva-Guna; it is Jada or insentient; it is not self-luminous; it is a limited thing; it is an object; it is not constantly present; it gets involved during deep sleep. An unreal thing cannot therefore be taken for the eternal, real Atman.

You are not the Vijnanamaya Kosha. This sheath also is not yours. It belongs to the subtle body. You are the Knower of this sheath and as such are entirely distinct from it.

Anandamaya Kosha – Causal or blissful sheath

The fifth sheath is the Anandamaya Kosha or Avidya in its Sattvic aspect causing the blissful experience of Sushupti or deep sleep. It is endowed with the three Vrittis, viz., Priya, Moda and Pramoda. Priya is the happiness that arises in one from the mere sight of a desired object. Moda is the happiness which one enjoys when he is in possession of a desired object. Pramoda is the happiness which one gets from the actual enjoyment of the desired object. This sheath makes itself spontaneously felt to the fortunate during the fruition of their virtuous deeds. This Anandamaya Kosha has its fullest play during deep sleep. In the dreaming and waking states it has only a partial operation, caused by the sight of pleasant objects. Priya Vritti is the head of Anandamaya Kosha. Moda Vritti is the right wing. Pramoda Vritti is its left wing. Pratibimbananda is its trunk. The Bimbananda of Atman is its tail.

Man generally says: I am the enjoyer. I am happy. I am peaceful. I am contented. I am Sattvic. I am Rajasic. I am Tamasic. I am a dull man. I am an ignorant man. I am a miserable man. I am a discontented person. I am a man of discrimination. I am a vicious person. I am a deluded person. Here the attributes of the Anandamaya Kosha are falsely ascribed to the Atman. Conversely the characteristics of the Satchidananda of Atman are falsely attributed to the Anandamaya Kosha. Man generally says: My bliss is, my bliss shines and my bliss is dear to me. Thus there is reciprocal illusory relationship between Atman and Anandamaya Kosha.

The Anandamaya Kosha cannot be the Atman, because it is endowed with changeful attributes. It is a modification of Prakriti. It is the effect of past good deeds. It has an end. You are not the Anandamaya Kosha. This sheath is not yours also. It constitutes the causal body. You are entirely distinct from this sheath. You are always the knower of this sheath. In the illustrations, 'My cow', 'my son', 'my wife', 'my house', the cow, the son, the wife and the house are entirely separate from man. Man generally says, 'My body, my Prana, my intellect, my senses, my ignorance'. This means that the body etc., are different from their proprietor indicated by the word 'my'. It is obvious that all the things are related to a Being which is beyond them all. The relationship is one of property towards its proprietor. You can clearly understand by the practice of 'Neti, neti' doctrine (a continuous process of elimination) that the body, Prana, mind, etc., are not the Soul or Atman, but belong to it.

All this illusion has arisen in men on account of ignorance and non-discrimination or absence of the faculty which discriminates between the eternal Atman and the illusory five sheaths which are falsely superimposed upon the Atman. The five sheaths are creations by the mind on account of ignorance. The five sheaths cannot be the pure, self-existent, self-luminous Atman. Srutis emphatically declare that the Atman is bodiless. Just as the changes that take place in the cow such as growth, decay, etc., do not in the least affect the proprietor of the cow, the seer, so also the changes that occur in the five sheaths do not touch their proprietor and seer, the Atman.

Just as you can clearly distinguish the sound of one man from another through the power of discrimination; just as you can clearly feel, this is soft, this is hard, this is hot, this is cold, by the power of discrimination; just as you can clearly understand by looking at a picture on a wall, this is black colour, this is red colour, this is wall, this is a picture, through the power of discrimination, although you are not able to separate the red colour from the black colour, the picture from the wall; just as you can clearly understand by tasting a drink, this is lemonade, this is orange, this is raspberry, through the power of discrimination, although you cannot separate the salt or sugar from the water; just as you can know the odour in a cloth by the organ of smell although you cannot separate the odour from the cloth; so also you can clearly differentiate Atman and the Koshas by understanding the essential nature of Atman and the five sheaths, by hearing Vedanta from a Guru. You can clearly understand that there is no connection between the Atman and the five sheaths. Although it is impossible for ordinary people to separate water from milk, yet it is possible for a Hamsa (swan) to separate water from milk. Although it is impossible for people of gross intellect to differentiate Atman from the five sheaths, yet it is possible for a man of subtle intellect to differentiate between them.

The five sheaths are not really in Atman. Just as the snake is superimposed upon the rope, silver on the mother-of-pearl, thief on the post, water in the mirage, blueness in the sky, so also the five sheaths are superimposed on the Atman on account of ignorance. Just as the illusion of snake vanishes when the knowledge of rope is attained, so also the erroneous conception of the five sheaths disappears when one gets knowledge of the Self.

The disciple generally asks the Guru: The five sheaths do not entirely perish, but manifest themselves even after the attainment of the Self. How can they be said to be illusory? Just as the water in the mirage appears for the man even after he is fully aware that it is illusory water only, so also, the five sheaths may appear to the sage even after he has attained Brahma Jnana. Just as a pot with a neck, body, etc., though it is nothing but the illusory appearance of clay, survives as long as the neck, body, etc., survive, so also the five sheaths, though known to be illusory appear as real like a burnt cloth so long as Prarabdha survives. When the soul gets differentiated from its sheaths, it shines in its true pristine glory, it shines in its true character of pure consciousness. It does not require any proof; for it is the basis of all proofs, something that the proofs must presuppose before they are brought into operation.

It is the unshakable and final conclusion of the Vedanta that, like the clay which alone truly survives after the name and form of the jar, which is but an illusory appearance of the clay, perish, the eternal, self-luminous Atman alone really survives after the five sheaths, which are but illusory attributes of Atman, are destroyed by the knowledge of the Self. Whoever knows thus, he is a Knower of Brahman, he is a Knower of the truths of Vedanta, he alone is a Jivanmukta. This is the emphatic declaration of the Upanishads.

Peace  love  harmony