Prapanchopashamam
Prapañcopaśamaṃ (IAST)Translation: "the negation of all relative existence"
From Mandukya Upanishad (Verses 7, 12)
A Concise Dictionary of Indian Philosophy
Sanskrit: प्रपञ्च
Transliteration: Prapañca
Translation: "the world; world appearance"
Mundaka and Mandukya Upanishads (Swami Sharvananda)
Sanskrit: प्रपञ्चोपशमं
Transliteration: Prapañcopaśamaṃ
Translation: "the negation of all relative existence/devoid of all phenomenal existence"
Commentary: "i.e., the primary test of existence is in the human consciousness. In the first three planes of consciousness, existence is intuited in relation to something that is a posteriori or external, and hence it is called Relative existence. But the consciousness of existence in the Turīya or the fourth plane i.e., in the superconscious state, is of unrelated absolute kind – the existence unconditioned by time, space, or causation. In that state, consciousness is Existence only. The absolute existence and the absolute consciousness are one and the same."
Commentary: "i.e., the primary test of existence is in the human consciousness. In the first three planes of consciousness, existence is intuited in relation to something that is a posteriori or external, and hence it is called Relative existence. But the consciousness of existence in the Turīya or the fourth plane i.e., in the superconscious state, is of unrelated absolute kind – the existence unconditioned by time, space, or causation. In that state, consciousness is Existence only. The absolute existence and the absolute consciousness are one and the same."
The Māṇḍūkya Upaniṣad (Swami Krishnananda)
Sanskrit: प्रपञ्चोपशमं
Transliteration: Prapañcopaśamaṃ
Definition: Here all Saṃsāra, all this tumult of creation, subsides, like waves sinking into the ocean, as dream is withdrawn into waking consciousness. The universe, in all its conditions – gross, subtle and causal – ceases here. In this state, there is neither the Virāt, nor Hiraṇyagarbha, nor Īśvara; because, there is no creation. This is the Ātman where there is neither waking, nor dreaming, nor sleep. Thus, it is called Prapañcopaśamaṃ.
References:
- Grimes, John (1996). A Concise Dictionary of Indian Philosophy: Sanskrit Terms Defined in English. Albany: State University of New York Press
- Sharvananda, Swami (1920). Mundaka and Mandukya Upanishads: With Sanskrit Text; Paraphrase with Word-For-Word Literal Translation, English, Rendering and Comments. Mylapore, Madras: Sri Ramakrishna Math
- Krishnananda, Swami (1996). The Māṇḍūkya Upaniṣad. Retrieved from https://www.swami-krishnananda.org/mand_0.html. p. 87.
