Day 242: The Subtle Body and the Notion of Rebirth
Day 242: The Subtle Body and the Notion of Rebirth
Understanding the Ativahika and the Cycle of Birth
Introduction
On Day 242, Vasistha continues to explore the nature of the jiva and its connection to the physical and subtle bodies. He elaborates on how the jiva, through the subtle body known as puryastaka or ativahika, experiences the cycle of birth, death, and rebirth. The subtle body is the vehicle that carries the impressions and tendencies of the jiva from one life to the next, thus perpetuating the illusion of individuality and separation from the infinite consciousness.
The Subtle Body: Ativahika
Vasistha begins by explaining that the ativahika or puryastaka is the subtle body that accompanies the jiva throughout its journey across different lifetimes. This subtle body is composed of mind, intellect, ego, and the subtle forms of the five elements. It is this puryastaka that gives rise to the sense of individuality and the perception of the physical world.
The subtle body is like a vessel that carries the impressions (samskaras) and tendencies (vasanas) of the jiva from one life to another. These impressions are the seeds that give rise to desires, actions, and their consequences, binding the jiva to the cycle of birth and death. Vasistha explains that the ativahika body is not material in nature but is a formation within consciousness itself, sustained by the jiva’s identification with the mind and senses.
The Cycle of Birth and Death
Vasistha illustrates the concept of the cycle of birth and death using the story of a dreamer. He describes how, during a dream, the dreamer might experience being in one place and then suddenly find themselves in another place. In the same way, the jiva, bound by its subtle body, moves from one physical body to another, driven by the impressions and desires it carries.
He emphasizes that just as the dreamer’s experiences are not real, but merely mental projections, the experiences of the jiva in different lifetimes are also illusory. The jiva mistakes these experiences for reality due to its ignorance of its true nature as pure consciousness. This ignorance leads to the continuity of the cycle of birth and death, where the jiva constantly seeks fulfillment in the external world, only to be met with temporary satisfaction and repeated suffering.
The Illusion of Rebirth
Vasistha goes on to explain that the notion of rebirth is an illusion sustained by the jiva’s attachment to the subtle body and the impressions it carries. He compares this illusion to the reflection of a face in a mirror. Just as the reflection is not the real face but merely an image, the jiva’s experience of different lifetimes is not real but a projection within consciousness.
He uses the analogy of a river to describe how the jiva flows through different lifetimes. Just as a river flows continuously, changing its course and appearance but remaining essentially the same water, the jiva flows through the cycle of existence, changing bodies and experiences but remaining bound by the same ignorance. The subtle body is the vehicle that carries the jiva along this river, perpetuating the illusion of individuality and separation.
The Story of the Bracelet and Gold
To further illustrate his point, Vasistha recounts the story of a golden bracelet. He explains that the bracelet, though it appears to be a distinct object, is nothing but gold. The name and form of the bracelet are merely a superimposition on the gold, which is the true substance. In the same way, the jiva is nothing but consciousness, and the subtle body and physical forms it takes on are mere superimpositions on that consciousness.
This story emphasizes that the jiva’s true nature is not different from the infinite consciousness. The identification with the subtle body and the experiences of different lifetimes are like the identification of the gold with the bracelet. Once the jiva realizes its true nature, the illusion of the subtle body and the cycle of birth and death dissolves, leading to liberation.
Liberation from the Cycle
Vasistha concludes by explaining that liberation is the realization of the jiva’s true nature as infinite consciousness. This realization comes when the jiva sees through the illusion of the subtle body and the cycle of birth and death. He emphasizes that the key to this realization is self-inquiry and meditation, which allow the jiva to recognize its true nature and detach from the illusory experiences of the world.
He reiterates that once the jiva attains this realization, it is no longer bound by the impressions and desires that drive the cycle of rebirth. The subtle body, which was once the vehicle of bondage, becomes a vehicle of liberation, as the jiva transcends the illusion of individuality and merges with the infinite consciousness.
Conclusion
On Day 242, Vasistha delves into the concept of the subtle body and its role in the cycle of birth and death. Through various analogies and stories, he explains how the jiva’s identification with the subtle body sustains the illusion of rebirth and bondage. The path to liberation, as Vasistha outlines, involves recognizing the illusory nature of the subtle body and realizing the jiva’s true nature as infinite consciousness. Through this realization, the jiva can transcend the cycle of existence and attain ultimate freedom.
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