ATMA BODHAM : 13 - (68 verses, 9 Chapters) - “KNOWLEDGE of the SELF”

ATMA BODHAM : 13 - (68 verses, 9 Chapters) - “KNOWLEDGE of the SELF”

18/04/2019
Chapter-4.
Verses 10-14  ( 4.nos ) :
VERSE 13: The Subtle Body


"Pancha praana manah buddhih dasha indriyah saman-vitam;

apanchi-krita bhootah uttham sookshma-angam bhoga saadhanam."


1 Pancha praana manah buddhih           = The five Pranas, the mind and intellect,

2 dasha indriyah saman-vitam;               = together with the ten senses combined;

3 apanchi-krita bhootah uttham             =   formed from the subtle elements, forms the


4 sookshma-angam bhoga saadhanam  = subtle body, the instrument of experience.


This verse is a more compact version of 6.2 of Tattva Bodha, on the Subtle Body.
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Bhoga Sadhanam: “Instrument” of Experience :

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The illustration here is of an instrument, such as a pen. An instrument is used for a
specific task, and put away when the task is done.

A pen may be picked up when there is some writing to be done. As soon as the work
is complete, the cap is fitted and the pen put away. In this manner, the subtle body, which is constituted of 17 parts, may be thought of as being so many instruments. Each of those 17 instruments has a function. Upon completion of that function it takes a rest. The Pranas, are instruments which do not take a rest like the others, as it has to support life in the body without a break.


The important implication of using the subtle body as an instrument is that it
prevents attachment of the Self building up – attachment towards the functions performed or that upon which the function is performed. Knowing that it is only an instrument, the mind and the intellect, and In particular the Chitta or memory of past experiences, would be used very wisely, without taking much note of all the emotions concerning those experiences. Human life gets unnecessarily complicated when all the past is dragged into the present. Relationships cannot be healed, but remain tense due to an incident of the past. The spirit of forgiveness is not possible if we do not manage the Chitta well. At the mind level, we prevent the mind from ruminating over the dead past. We also prevent it from ruminating over how it is going to fulfil the next desire.Used as an instrument, we restrict it just to what it is meant to do in the present.


However, that is the ideal condition of usage of the equipment of the subtle body. In
practice this is rarely the case, and it is why human life can become so complex and
stressful. Attachment to objects and desires makes us identify ourselves completely with these equipments. We virtually ‘live’ all the time in our thoughts and emotions.

The Inter-Connection Between all the Parts of the Subtle and Gross Body :

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The additional point spoken about by Acharyaji was the inter-connection between
the Sattwic, Rajasic and Tamasic manifestations of Maya. The Sattwic Organ of knowledge perceives the Tamasic gross object for each element respectively. The Rajasic Organ of action facilitates that perception for each element respectively. The mouth produces the sound which the ear hears. Notice the connection between the skin and the hands; when the skin wants to get in touch with its object, it invariably uses the hands.


ELEMENT- SATTWA-RAJAS-TAMAS

Tanmatra -Organ of knowlg- Organ of action- Gross Object
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Space -Ears -Speech (mouth)- Sound
Air -Skin- Grasping (hands) - Touch
Fire - Eyes - Locomotion (legs)-Form/Colour
Water- Tongue- Procreation (genitals) -Taste
Earth -Nose -Elimination (anus)- Smell

Notice also the connection between the eye and the legs. When the eye is attracted
by a beautiful form, the legs are activated to provide locomotion towards it.

The tongue’s desire to be satisfied by taste is linked to the sexual urge of
procreation. This is why control of the taste-buds is a primary Sadhana for the practice of celibacy or Brahmacharya.

And lastly, the most objectionable thing about a bodily elimination is its smell, picked up by the nose. This explains the link between the nose and the organ of excretion.

In this way the qualities of the senses are linked to their sense objects.

NEXT : VERSE 14: The Causal Body

To be continued ..