Basic Philosophy II

The Language of Vedanta
A) Brahman
From the Sanskrit root bri, which means expansive. It is the all inclusive, eternal, changeless reality, which
transcends all forms, Ultimate Reality. The term Brahman is used to refer to that which is Real. According
to the Vedantic system, Brahman alone is Real, transcending time and space. It is that supreme
unchanging reality. Brahman is Sanskrit for God. Brahman is one without a second; that is limitless and
boundless. Brahman is the source of the entire universe. Brahman is Love itself, boundless limitless joy.
B)Maya
Maya means illusion. It is the illusory nature of the phenomenal world.

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The Language of Vedanta
C) Gunas
The qualities, attributes, or properties of maya are called guna in Sanskrit. Maya does its work through the
three gunas. Maya and the gunas are inseparable. You cannot have maya without gunas. Maya's army is made
up of the three gunas (triguna). These three qualities are known as sattva, rajas and tamas. Sattva: steadiness;
intellectual growth; health; happiness; lightness; purity; tranquility; goodness. Rajas: activity; stimulated senses;
greed; craving; attachment; arrogance; contempt; excessiveness. Tamas: sluggishness; confusion; aversion;
irrationality; obstinacy; dependency; violence; grief; pain.
D) Jiva
Jiva is the Sanskrit term used to describe the individual soul. Jiva is an individual soul who is bound by maya
and is ignorant of its real or true nature as Brahman.

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The Language of Vedanta
E) Atman-The Supreme Self within the Individual
The atman is the cosmic soul. It sees all; it is the indwelling witness, always calm and unaffected. It is pure
consciousness, in a state of absolute joy. It is unborn and deathless, not subject to growth and decay. It is
unchangeable and eternal and is not destroyed when the body is destroyed.
F) Ishvara
Ishvara means God, Cosmic Self, the Self, Divine in form, personal God (how one relates to or sees God),
supreme Purusha, saguna Brahman.
F) Upadhi
The Self is housed in a container called in Sanskrit upadhi. Encased in five koshas—sheaths— produced by maya,
the atman remains hidden. When the sheaths are cleaned of their dirt (ignorance), the atman is allowed to shine
through. Upadhi means “vehicle.”

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The Language of Vedanta
Brahman
Maya
Gunas
Sattva
Rajas
Tamas
Jiva
Atman

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Upadhi – 5 Koshas
1. Annamaya kosha: anna=food, maya kosha=covering. It is made of the food
we eat from the 5 elements of the physical world: earth, water, fire, air, and
ether. It experiences birth, growth, change, death and decay. It is purified by
vegetarian diet, asanas and nadam.
2. Pranamaya kosha: prana=vitality; maya kosha=covering. It is made of energy,
the 5 prana vayus, plus the 5 karma indriyas. It experiences hunger, thirst,
heat and cold. It is purified by pranayama, asana, mudra, bandhas, and
nadam.
3. Manomaya kosha: mano=emotions; maya kosha=covering. It is made of
emotions, feelings, subconscious mind, plus the 5 jñana indriyas. It
experiences thinking, doubting, anger, lust, exhilaration, depression and
delusion. It is purified by satsang, chanting, ritual, yamas, selfless service
(karma yoga), devotion, and nadam.

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4. Vijñanamaya kosha: vijñana=intellect, maya kosha=covering. It is composed
of thoughts and ideas, the sense of ego self: ahamkara. It experiences decisionmaking as it analyses and determines the nature of an object. It is purified by
niyamas, satsang, Sanskrit, Self-inquiry, meditation, taking a yoga teachertraining course, and nadam.
5. Anandamaya kosha: ananda=bliss; maya kosha=covering. It is made of bliss.
It experiences bliss, joy, happiness, calm, and peace. Through this body the
individual soul experiences the effects of a good deed. When we sleep, we
know joy, bliss, calmness and peace that are obtained through this sheath. It is
the energy that vibrates within us without pause. It is purified by ecstasy,
samadhi, the direct experience of shabda Brahman, the sound that is God.

Basic Philosophy II

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