The Self


It was through me the Creator himself
gained liberating knowledge.
I am being, consciousness, bliss, eternal freedom:
unsullied, unlimited, unending.

My perfect consciousness shines your world
like a beautiful face in a soiled mirror.
Seeing that reflection I wish myself you — an individual soul —
as if I could be finite!

A finite soul, an infinite Goddess —
these are false concepts in the minds of those
unacquainted with truth.
No space, my loving devotee,
exists between your Self and my Self.
Know this and you are free.
This is the secret wisdom.

~ Sarasvati-Rahasya Upanishad*


आत्मन्

ब्रह्मन्

The Four Macrocosmic Quarters of the Self / Brahman
  1. विरात् – Virāt (Cosmic Consciousness)
  2. हिरण्यगर्भ – Hiraṇyagarbha (The Golden Egg)
  3. ईश्वर – Īśvara (The Lord)
  4. तुरीय – Turīya (The Fourth)

The Four Microcosmic Quarters of the Self / Brahman
  1. वैश्वानर / विश्व – Vaiśvānara / Viśva (The Self of the Waking State)
  2. तैजस – Taijasa (The Self of the Dream State)
  3. प्रज्ञा – Prajñā (Wisdom / The Self of the Sleep State)
  4. तुरीय – Turīya (The Fourth)

States of Consciousness
  1. जाग्रत् – Jāgrat (Waking State)
  2. स्वप्न – Svapna (Dream State)
  3. सुषुप्त – Suṣupti (Deep Sleep)
  4. समाधि – Samādhi (Meditative State)

शरीर – Śarīra (Bodies of the Jīva)
  1. स्थूलशरीर – Sthūla Śarīra (Gross Body)
  2. सूक्ष्मशरीर / लिङ्गशरीर – Sūkṣma-Śarīra / Liṅga Śarīra (Subtle Body)
  3. कारणशरीर – Kāraṇa-Śarīra (Causal Body)

कोश – Kośa (Sheath)
  1. अन्नमयकोश – Annamaya-Kośa (The Sheath of Food)
  2. प्राणमयकोश – Prāṇamaya-Kośa (The Sheath of Vital Air)
  3. मनोमयकोश – Manomaya-Kośa (The Sheath of Mind / The Mental Sheath)
  4. विज्ञानमयकोश – Vijñānamaya-Kośa (The Sheath of the Intellect)
  5. आनन्दमयकोश – Ānandamaya-Kośa (The Sheath of Bliss)

अन्तःकारण – Antaḥ-Kāraṇa (Internal Instruments)
  1. बुद्धि – Buddhi (Intellect) 
  2. अहङ्कार – Ahaṅkāra (Ego / "The 'I'-maker") 
  3. मनः / मनस् – Manaḥ / Manas (Cognitive Mind) 
  4. चित्त – Citta (Mind)  

बह्यकारण – Bahya-Kāraṇa (External Instruments)
  1. तन्मात्र – Tanmātra (Subtle Elements)
  2. महाभूत – Mahābhūta (The Great Elements)
  3. ज्ञानेन्द्रिय – Jñānendriya (Organs of Knowledge)
  4. कर्मेन्द्रिय – Karmendriya (Organs of Action)



* Johnsen, Linda (1999). The Living Goddess: Reclaiming the Tradition of the Mother of the Universe. Saint Paul, Minnesota: Yes International Publishers