Tattvabodha of Shankaracharya

Tattvabodha  of Shankaracharya                                                                                                         http://svbf.org/wp-content/uploads/tattvabodha/5_Tattvbodha_Atman_Srushtivichara.pdf

Tattva Bodha of Adi Sankaracharya  -

A Vedantic Primer: Part 2 (contd.)

(Lecture Notes compiled by Venkat Ganesan from the series of

SVBF Lectures given by Dr. S. YEGNASUBRAMANIAN)

2. Analysis of the Individual - jIva vicAraH

(continued)

In the discussion on the Analysis of the

Individual - jIvavichAraH, in the previous issue, the

Author showed how the Atman is the witness

or illuminator of the three states of experience

(avasthA) and is different from the five

sheaths (panca koSA) of the body. The Author

proceeds to explain the qualities or attributes

of the Atman, which will be discussed now.

2.6.

 madIya.n sharIraM madIyAH prANAH madIyaM manashcha

 madIyA buddhirmadIya.n aj~nAnamiti

 svenaiva j~nAyate tadyathA madIyatvena j~nAta.n

 kaTakakuNDala gR^ihAdika.n tadyathA madIyatvena j~nAta.n

 kaTakakuNDalagR^ihAdika.n svasmadbhinna.n tathA

 pa~nchakoshAdika.n svasmadbhinnaM

 madIyatvena j~nAtamAtmA na bhavati ..

(As bangles, ear-ornaments, homes etc. are

known as "mine", but are different from the

owner, so also, the five sheaths which are known

by the Self as "my body, my mind, my prANas,

my mind, my intellect and my ignorance", are

different from the knower and so cannot be the

Atman).

yathA - just as

kaTakakuNDalagR^ihAdika.n - bangles, ear-ornaments,

homes etc.

madIyatvena j~nAta.n - are known as "mine "

svasmadbhinnaM - and different from the owner

tathA - likewise

pa~nchakoshAdika.n - the five sheaths (and three bodies

and three avasthAs - which are known by the

Self) as

madIya.n sharIraM - My body - annamaya

madIyAH prANAH - My prANas  -  prANamaya

madIyaM manashcha - My  mind  (also)  - manomaya

madIyA buddhiH  - My intellect - vijnAnamaya

madIya.n aj~nAnam - My  Bliss (due to ignorance) - aanandamaya

svenaiva tat j~nAyate - (by oneself - these) are known

svasmadbhinna.n - as different from oneself

AtmA na bhavati - Therefore that does not be-

come the Atman. Why? Because of moha (delusion),

they appear to be mine.

Then the question arises, what is Atman?

(Continued in next post)