Philosophies of India

SR No.: 007309
Original Sutra Author: N/A
Author: Heinrich Zimmer, Joseph Campbell
Publisher: Routledge and Kegan Paul Ltd
Publication Year: 1953
Total Pages: 709
Language: English
Classification: Book_English
File Size: 34 MB

Page 436

VEDANTA
According to an introductory summary of this doctrine, conveniently presented in the Vedāntasāra of the fifteenth-century monk Sadananda,135 the Self is concealed within five sheaths, five superimposed psychosomatic layers. The first and most substantial is that known as anna-maya-kośa, “the sheath (kośa) made (maya) of food (anna),” which is, of course, the gross body and its world of gross matter. This corresponds to the plane of waking consciousness, as described in the Mandukya Upanişad.186 The second sheath, prāņa-maya-kośa, “the sheath made of the vital forces (prāņa),” 187 and the third, mano-maya-kośa, "the sheath made of mind (and the senses) (manas)," iogether with the fourth, vijñāna-maya-kośa, “the sheath made of understanding (vijñāna),” compose the subtle body, which corresponds to the plane of dream consciousness; while the fifth, ānanda-mayakośa, "the sheath made of bliss (ānanda),” which corresponds to the plane of decp sleep as described in the Mandukya Upanişad, is what is known as the causal body. This is a dark, very deep covering of ignorance (avidyā), which is the fundamental undersheath of the whole created world. Only when this has been torn away can the Self be known-that serene Silence beyond the syllable AUM, which from the point of view of Sankara's “Nondualist" Vedānta is the sole actuality, the only really real. "Enveloped by the five sheaths," sankara writes in his Vivekacūņāmaņi, "which are produced by its own power, the Self does not shine forth-like water in a tank covered by unbroken masses of sedge (which are produced by its own power). But when the sedge is removed completely the clear water becomes visible to man, allays the pangs of thirst, and bestows happiness to the highest degree." 188
Nescience (avidyā), the “maker" (māyā) of the sedge, is not 135 Cf. supra, pp. 52-56. 184 Supra, pp. 372-378. 137 Supra, pp. 318-319. 188 Sankara, Vivekacüdamani 149-150.
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