Ishwa helper Reged: 03/03/02 Posts: 553

Re: Hot Thread! [Re: grames] #14293 - 04/03/02 01:26 PM Edit Reply Quote

Haha, Grames, the moment we try to define what it is composed of, then it is no Atman anymore. Then it is Jiivatman or Atman with Anu (or Prakrika) gunas. Maybe your question would be to try to define Jiivatman. Well Jiivatman has these sequential Vasanas (identifications): Ahamtva, Mamatva and Dvandva. First it has the I-identification: I am this, iam not that. Then it has the Mine-identification: This is mine, that isn't mine. Finally it has Separateness: I and We are and have this, You and They are and have that. The identifications are made by the unchanging Atman with the changing Jiiva and giving Atman the illusion that it is changed too. But Atman isn't changed essentially, nor are the transformations of Anu change the essence of Anu. The moment Atman realizes this (Atman can realize this by itself, Anu can't), then Atman is no more directed towards a changing Jiiva, but towards the root-Anu. Then Atman as Purusha can reunite again with root-Anu=Prakrti. The male and female principles are re-united, and lose the urge for significance = attributes, and are "absorbed" in Nirguna. I wouldn't call Sattva Rajas and Tamas as Goodness, Passion and Ignorance. The words have these meanings Intermediate, Extravert and Introvert when talking about psychological qualities. In the positive sense the are: Moderate, Passionate and Humble or Shy. In the negative sense: Stoical, Agressive, Self-destructive. (Sat-tva is being-ness, rajas = expanding and tamas = contracting. Tam = tame is also in the word tim-ide) So basically there are three possibilities in every human being, which give many more secondary and tertiary possibilities when the identification process proceeds. Bringing the three in balance will give one primeval possibility, and finally none.