What is a spirit?

A spirit is a weightless shapeless power that carries all the

powers of five senses.

This is not pranamaya kosha. Prana is the physical force that exerts on the body
to carry out work. Pranamayakosha and annamaya kosha work in tandem.
Tiredness happens only to pranamaya kosa and not the annamaya kosa. The
annamaya kosa is like a hammer having the same strength all the time. But
pranamaya gets tired. When a hammer is given to a weak arm, it cannot be
used. Similarly pranamaya kosa gets tired and cannot use the physical body.
Sleep, Hunger, Thirst and all bodily activities like procreation, elimination,
walking, moving hands, speaking are done by pranamaya kosha.

Intelligence, Thought, Mind, Spirit are all synonymous and refer to manomaya
vijnanamaya and anandamaya kosha.

Your spirit is a bundle of thought, what you think most of is your spirit.

Spirit in an expanded state is as vast as Universe, when focused becomes like a

tiny spot.

Spirit going away from body or coming inside body What these phrases mean?
Going out or coming in does not pertain to space. It is the spirit temporarily
disengaging from body and doing its work as per its nature ( Dreaming ) and
then stopping this activity also.

Prana & Body active along with mind Waking Animal life
Spirit/Min
Prana & Body passive, Only mind Dreamin Spiritual, receive from
d working
active g God
with
Prana, Body and mind all passive Sleep Spirit in loneliness

Dreams are not pure imagination. If Waking life is a dream then what is the
difference between dreaming and waking? No difference. Hence dreams need not
be rejected.

I have two memories, one trained for the body and the other of spirit.

God communicates mostly in sleep and not in day time. This is so because in day
time we are tied up to our senses and in night, when we are sleeping bodily
actions come to rest and mind is turned into listening mode.

In waking, we have power in phenomenal world while in sleep in spiritual world.

The basic difference between Christian and Hindu philosophy lies here.

With consciousness in back drop, mind in association with body performs actions
in waking state, without associating with body dreams and in sleep temporarily
gets closer to pure consciousness. But pure consciousness called turiya is the
fourth state to which I belong to. Since I am not aware of this state, I continue to
be either sleeping or dreaming or awake.
The projection of final days:

At the end of the tenure of life, I am going to see the same world highly impure,
diverse, and all the efforts of seeing a perfect world going waste. There is no use
in criticizing or moaning. The friends have turned into enemies and vice versa.
The only consolation that can be derived from this is that I am not the only
person subjected to this failure. This is universal and as happened to all,
happening and will continue to happen to all. This silent suffering will remain the
same.

This is not a negative outlook. This is neither positive. It is from unbiased

observation.

If I look the world as something real, then I will be ending up with failure.

If I look the world as something unreal, still I will be ending up with failure
because this attitude will raise another question. Have I misread the world to be
negative and is this failure due to this misreading?

Why this happens? It is due to my inability to understand that this world does not
belong to me, I came here all alone and going to go back all alone, no relatives,
friends will accompany me. I did not bring anything here and I will not take
anything from here. Then what is this life and experiences all about? Is this life a
futile experiment?

No. First we have to look up the three components that make up this world. They
are Myself, God, this external world.

External World includes universe. My botheration is with world and what I call as
world will be limited to my own experiences with people and objects with whom I
have contacted or in contact with. This is the boundary. Within this boundary
there are people, each of them having a world of their own, some overlapping
with my world and some extended. This boundary is what I have drawn as per
my capability and can include the whole universe.

Irrespective of the size, the end result is the same. The failure staring at me
cannot be made a success; I can never see a perfect world. The same applies to
time also. Even if I can extend the time to thousands of years, the result will be
the same.

Space and time does not provide the cure. To some extent they offer solace but
the imminent failure is a reality. So the best way is to view the world as a
spectator and not as active participant.

Soul is described as spectator and the world as unreal. Negation of this world is
not to be laughed at but to be accepted as a matter of fact. Negation of the mind
body complex is also more prudent.

Now comes the other aspect, God. If the world is not there or unreal, who is God?
To what he presides over? He cannot certainly rule over a world which obviously
is not there. Then what he rules?
He can never rule the soul because soul is omnipotent. Then it leaves out only
one option, the soul is god.

I am not this body mind complex. I am pure soul.

What about mind? It is for the mind to realize that it is soul. The spiritual mind
recognizes this and soon the material mind vanishes.

The whole of life, all experiences are to realize only this and nothing else.

Mind perceives. It is mind which perceives objects with attributes. Objects per se
do not have these attributes inherently because all objects are waves of energy.
Similar is mind. Though mind seems to be capable of perceiving directly, are
they really so? When I am immersed in a thought why do I not see a person
standing near me?

Will it be wrong to tell that mind as such is incapable of any independent

perception but the ability to perceive is due to Soul? Since perception involves
rational understanding, it is Soul that perceives with the aid of Intelligence and
sense organs. Similarly it is the soul that acts in combination with mind and
motor organs. Put together, it is from the soul these powers are derived. Unless
they are latent in Soul, this will not be possible.

Hence replacing the world, mind and body with Soul or I, the entities are reduced
to two. The soul and non-soul. What is the difference between them? Are they
two sides of same coin? No. It is a single entity that is there everywhere in all the
dimension.

When a portion of self assumes the form of mind, the other portion assumes the
form of object. When mind is destroyed, objects also vanish. Name, form, and
properties are assumed and assigned by mind as per the capabilities it has.

The intriguing part of detoxification is that the poison does not reach Indra and
no thunderbolt is heard recently. Are the snakes much more powerful than what I
have imagined or am I walking into a trap by accepting their superiority? When
everything is Brahman which is superior and which is inferior?

O4 December 2016

Narayana Suktham revisited

Text Meaning Implied Meaning
This universe is the Eternal Being (Narayana),
the imperishable, the supreme, the goal,
multi-headed and multi-eyed (i.e.,
omnipresent and omniscient), the
resplendent, the source of delight for the whole
universe.
This universe is the Supreme Being (Purusha)
alone; hence, it subsists on That, the Eternal
which transcends it (in every way)the
Omnipresent Absolute which destroys all sins.
The protector of the universe, the Lord of all
souls (or Lord over Self), the perpetual, the
auspicious, the indestructible, the Goal of all
creation, the Supreme object worthy of being
known, the Soul of all beings, the Refuge
unfailing (is He).
The Lord Narayana is the Supreme Absolute;
Narayana is the Supreme Reality; Narayana is
the Supreme Light; Narayana is the Supreme
Self; Narayana is the Supreme Meditator;
Narayana is the Supreme Meditation.
Whatever all this universe is, seen or heard of
pervading all this, from inside and outside
alike, stands supreme the Eternal Divine Being
(Narayana).
He is the Limitless, Imperishable, Omniscient,
residing in the ocean of the heart, the Cause
of the happiness of the universe, the Supreme
End of all striving, (manifesting Himself) in the
ether of the heart which is comparable to an
inverted bud of the lotus flower.
Below the Adams apple, at a distance of a
span, and above the navel (i.e., the heart
which is the relative seat of the manifestation
of Pure Consciousness in the human being),
effulges the Great Abode of the universe, as if
adorned with garlands of flames.
Surrounded on all sides by nerve-currents (or
arteries), the lotus-bud of the heart is
suspended in an inverted position. In it is a
subtle space (a narrow aperture, the
sushumna-nadi), and therein is to be found the
Substratum of all things.
In that space within the heart resides the Great
Flaming Fire, undecaying, all-knowing, with
tongues spread out in all directions, with faces
turned everywhere, consuming all food
presented before it, and assimilating it into
itself.
His rays, spreading all round, sideways as well
as above and below, warm up the whole body
from head to foot. In the centre of That (Flame)
abides the Tongue of Fire as the topmost
among all subtle things.
Note:Due to the attachments and
entanglement of the jiva in worldly enjoyment
and suffering, the Consciousness is enshrouded
in potential as well as expressed objectivity;
hence, it appears like a tiny streak of flame
within the dark clouds of ignorance. But when
the jiva rises above worldliness, the
Consciousness is realised as the Infinite.
Brilliant like a streak of lightning set in the
midst of the blue rain-bearing clouds, slender
like the awn of a paddy grain, yellow (like gold)
in colour, in subtlety comparable to the minute
atom, (this Tongue of Fire) glows splendid.
In the middle of that Flame, the Supreme Self
dwells. This (Self) is Brahma (the Creator), Siva
(the Destroyer), Hari (the Protector), Indra (the
Ruler), the imperishable, the Absolute, the
Autonomous Being.
Prostrations again and again to the Omni-
formed Being, the Truth, the Law, the Supreme
Absolute, the Purusha of blue-decked yellow
hue, the Centralised-force
Power, the All-seeing One.
We commune ourselves with Narayana, and
meditate on Vaasudeva; May that Vishnu direct
us (to the Great Goal).

Om. santi. santi. santi.

6. A beautiful meaning associated with the bow is in Atharvana Upanishat.

Omkar is the bow. Mind is the arrow. God is the goal. One should target the mind
to the goal towards the goal without any glitches.

One or many is the mode of observation. This is like seeing every individual
separately or looking them as a collection called humanity,

Only self or atman is to be loved. It is because of him this Universe and Gods are
known.

Everything is fine. But without prakrithi there is no Universe. Then what is life all
about? What is jeevan? There is no role for jeevan also. Who is to realize
Brahman? Jeevan. How? By seeing everything as Brahman. If the Universe is
nothing but Gunas, where from these gunas originate?

On looking closer, it seems probable that there is no universe at all. Whatever I

see, hear, touch, smell or taste seems like a mirage. In the absence of any inside
or outside, there can be no actions.

Individual Spirit and Universal Spirit are one and the same. One gold appearing
as bangles, ring etc it is one consciousness that appears as Mr X, Ms Y and so on.

Individual self say self of X is that which is associated with the gunas of X like
gold associated with ring.

Individual self say self of Y is that which is associated with the gunas of Y like
gold associated with Bangle.

If we remove the name and form from bangles and ring, only gold remains.
Likewise if we remove gunas from individuals only atman remains.

It is this intelligence, the intelligence after removing the gunas the self.
It is this intelligence, the intelligence after removing the gunas the self.

In a chorus of chanting, individual voice is not heard. But at the same time it
cannot be said that the individual voice do not exist. Similarly happiness of
atman from outside objects is not felt due to the chorus effect. The chorus effect
is by the ignorance and is the major obstacle.

Maya is pure sattva and reflection of intelligence in maya after subduing it is

Iswara.

Reflection of intelligence in avidya is individual self also known as jiva, prajna,

causal body, seed.

Depending on the level of avidya they are called humans, animals, plants etc.

By the command of Iswara the five tanmatras etc originated.

The individual astral body due to avidya is taijasa and the collective astral body
made of pure satva alone and that of Iswara is Hiranyagarbha. Similar for
vaisvanara and visva.

The difference between Jiva and Iswara is this. Jeeva is under ignorance and
thinks the Universe is a reality. Even though Iswara has connection with
Universe, he is not ignorant. He is fully aware that the universe is illusion. The
maya associated with him has satva guna and that guna operates this universe.

Atman

Iswara Prajna

Hiranyagarbha Taijasa

Vaisvanara Viswa

Enjoyment, Karma

Physical Universe
Jivan or avidya in connection with

Food Annamaya kosha

Vital energy Pranamaya

Doubting mind Mental

Certitude Vijnanamaya

Enjoyer of Bliss , Happiness and Misery Anandamaya kosha inherent tendency

to be happy or sad.

Atman in reality is not at all connected with any of these sheaths. It is due to
ignorance it appears as connected.

In subtle body, except for food all other 4 sheaths are present.

Ignorance is the coil of spinal cord.

That Atma with pure maya, Thou Atma with impure avidya

The overall meaning is whatever there is in this perceived Universe is either the
maya + Atma or Avidya + Atma.

Parabrahman is nameless and formless.

If space is to be perceived it can be done only with the help of light or darkness.
In the absence of light and dark how space can be perceived? If that light or
darkness exists, it can never exist outside of this Universe.

If there was emptiness before the world came into being, how do any one know it
was empty? Wherefrom the light to see that emptiness came?

Buddhi is not required to realize Brahman,

Like the burning power of fire not separate from fire, the maya is not separate
from Brahman.

At the same time, the burning power is not fire. We do not call fire as fire due to
burning power alone. So maya is inherent in Brahman but Brahman is not maya.

Atman is Brahman, Atma sakthi is maya.

Maya and Brahman are inter convertible. Because maya came from Brahman, it
has existence, power to present as object and power to attract. The difference is
the name, form and properties. These name, form and properties are limited by
space and time and subject to changes and potentially can be converted back to
Brahman.

Only a portion of Brahman became Universe. Even though Brahman is formless

and hence there can be no portions in it, it is said so just to convey the idea
figuratively.
Space is produced by Maya. Soul has only one property called existence, there is
no sound within it. Created Space has two qualities, existence from Brahman and
sound which came out during creation of space.

Sabda Brahman is Space + Brahman, which is this Universe, Para Brahman is

Brahman which pervades this Universe and also extends beyond space.

Atman is permanent existence. What maya does is it tries to impart this

permanency to space also. Hence we wrongly think that space is permanent.

Sound is present, Space acts on that sound and because of this action air is there
existing. Air exists because it borrows its existence, power to attract, power to
present as object etc from space, the name, form and properties due to action of
space on sound.

Space resides within Atman.

If space is a fixed entity which is always present, how do we dream and where
from the space for the dream events came from? This is maya. Maya makes
Nothing to appear as Something.

There is nothing called Space but maya makes it to appear s Space.

Existence is different from space. Try to meditate on this.

Reality is entirely different from space. This difference is to be firmly established.

Prajna always looks upon space as temporary, unreal.

In case of air, Brahman and air do not have a cause and effect relationship.

Existence SoundMaya, Satva predominant

Brahman Space

Existence Sound+Touch
Maya, Satva predominant+ Rajo
Brahman Air

Once existence is removed, air, fire, water and earth will become impermanent.
Once they are known to be impermanent, the force of air and all other properties
need not be separately considered or analyzed. Arguments like Why air is
blowing or why it retains moisture becomes unnecessary.

Duality appears because of ignorance. On one side we have permanent

existence and on the other side we have temporary existence. Thinking of
temporary as permanent is maya and dualistic.
 Take even God. If the body of Krishna is Universe, the body has undergone many
changes. Aero planes, rockets, computers were not there even hundred years
back. If we consider this then the body of Krishna has undergone many changes.
So he is no longer the same Krishna who was 3000 years before.

The image of knowledge or Brahman falls on buddhi and it also is subject to

rebirth. Mind is like animal while intellect is like human.

When we are happy or sad, at that particular moment the anandamaya kosha is
reflected in full in the intelligence and we feel extremely happy. Once the contact
with object of pleasure is lost, no more ananda is reflected in intelligence and
buddhi remerges with prakriti or anandamaya kosha.

Anandamaya kosha is undifferentiated cosmic condition of matter. What is this

undifferentiated means? It means the prakrithi as such called mahat. The
indications of space, time, panchabhutas have not yet emerged from it.

We have seen that from prakrithi the tanmatras came out. But when it has not
come out, what was there originally was prakriti. This is buddhi.

Vijnanamaya kosha and anandamaya kosha though termed separately, becomes

separate only during the enjoyment of happiness or misery. In other times it is
the same.

The same sheath internal portion is vijnanamaya ( which comes out periodically)
or anandamaya kosha. The external portion is mind.

Atman is different and is light, eternal, infinite, intelligence and bliss. This is
original and not reflection.

The reflection is jeeva also called anandamaya, vijnanamaya, manomaya,

pranamaya etc.
CONCIOUSNESS
NORMAL
Ananda Jiva I
Mano Prana Anna Object
Sensory

DURING PERCEPTION
CONCIOUSNESS

CONCIOUSNESS
AFTER Mano BACK
ENJOYMENT Prana Anna
TO NORMAL Object
Vijnana
Ananda Jiva I Sensory
Ananda Jiva I Mano Prana Anna Object
Sensory
Wave from Object
Perception of objects, Joy Image
Mental etc
Atman is not a cognizable object, he is pure intelligence. It is self luminous, self
knowing. It does not require any sensory perception, mental perception or
intelligence. All these came from it and hence these sensory perception, mental
perception and intelligence are lower than atman. Since these came from Atman,
Atman already has all these and does not require these aids of senses.

Atman is beyond consciousness. What does it mean?

What is Consciousness? It is an internal feeling that arises when there is a

contact with object. The object can be external or can be body or mind,
intelligence, etc. I can be conscious of my body, Similarly I can be unconscious
even of my body at times like swoon or deep sleep.

Atman is neither consciousness nor unconsciousness. It imparts consciousness to

causal, subtle or physical body. He is Jnanam.
Atman is always knower. He cannot be known. He is the very existence. I exist
only because there is self. If there is no self, I, You, He, She or It are not there.
This is Jnanam.

Sathyam is truth. Truth is indestructible. Hence after dissolution of the world

what remains is truth alone and he is Sathyam. In other words, it is Self that
oversees the destruction of this universe. When it happens to Individual, it is
called moksha. When it happens as a collection it is pralaya.

Space, time or object does not limit this self. Anantham. Space, Time and
Objects are illusion.

Atman cannot be attributed to objects. Objects are limited.

Atman cannot be Jiva or Iswara because they are associated with Avidya and
Maya respectively.

When supreme Brahman associates with maya, it is called Iswara and becomes
universal lord. The same Brahman when associates with avidya it is called Jiva.

If we remove supreme Brahman from iswara, what remains? Prakriti alone. The 3
gunas, the same I of lord, Buddhi, memory, mind, prana, ..;

Mind is assuming the form of object. What is the meaning? The whole universe
is only energy. There is no physical solidity whatsoever in any object including
our body. In such a field, mind assuming the shape of object is perfectly correct.

Why this universe is seen, felt, smelt, taste as such? What is the need for all
these? What is the purpose of this universe? There is no purpose because this
Universe vanishes on getting right knowledge. This Universe and the feelings
they give are useful to gain knowledge. As far as God is concerned, this universe
was not there, is not there and will not be there. Hence there is no purpose.
Since God is already complete, what purpose can be there for him?

If god has not created me, why I am born? I am born not because God created
me, I feel that I am born because I am ignorant. I think that this little I as what
intelligence, memory, mind, body tells me that is I. But the real self is lying
buried which I do not realize. So I feel I am born.

It is not required to argue. Arguments are useless. Direct realization of truth is

correct.

Prajnanam Brahma Individual intelligence ( Not the waking state buddhi but the
prajna in deep sleep) and Brahman are identical.

Aham Brahmasmi: Aham is not the individual ego, it is the atman. That
intelligent atman and Brahman are identical.

Tattvamasi: That represents the condition prior to the evolution of visible

world. Tvam represents the atman. Both are same.
Ayam Atma Brahma: Ayam or This represents the atman. That intelligence
which animates the body and Brahman are identical.

Like a painting on the wall:

The unassociated intelligence of Supreme Brahman is the preparation of ground.

Iswaras intelligence associated with maya is the Stretching and rubbing the
Canvas.

The subtle astral body which acts as the subject is the thread which runs through
the entire outline fabric.

The intelligence of physical body is the colour.

As per Vedanta, God is only one and he is spirit. His energy is spiritual energy. A
portion of this became Mental energy and a portion of mental energy became
Universe. Since everything came from God, there is nothing in this Universe
which is apart from God.

Universe

Mental Energy

Spiritual Energy

Spirit

Universe Physical energy Parvathi

Mental Energy Sarasvathi

Spiritual Energy
Lakshmi

Spirit
Narayana
Spirit and spiritual energy are inseparable. Lakshmi and Narayana. Since spiritual
energy is the foundation and base for mental and physical energies, Lakshmi is
instrumental in showing off as Universe. It is through spiritual energy the spirit is
known.

Since physical