Atmabodha stanza 15

Sri Sadgurubhyoh Namah

 A pure crystal, when covered in a blue cloth, appears blue. Similarly the Atma (Self) is clothed in five sheaths (koshas) and appears to be having the qualities of those sheaths.

The five sheaths are a) Annamaya (physical body) b) Pranamaya (Vital body) c) Manomaya (mental body) d) Vijnanamaya (intellectual body) e) Anandamaya (causal body).

In reality Atma is none of these layers / koshas / sheaths.

Hari Om

Atmabodha stanza 14

Sri Sadgurubhyoh Namah

Avidya (Ignorance) is the cause of subtle and gross bodies, and is called causal body. Avidya is beginningless and cannot be defined. Atma (Self, Consciousness) is different from causal, subtle and gross bodies and is a witness of these.

Atmabodha stanza 13

Sri Sadgurubhyoh Namah

Pancha prana (five vital airs which are prana, apana, vyana, samana, udana) , and ten organs (five organs of perception like eyes, nose, ears, skin, tongue and five organs of action like hands, legs, mouth for speech, anus and reproductory organ), mind, intellect form the seventeen elements of subtle body, which is the driver of gross body for the purpose of experiencing the world. Atman is different to these.

Atmabodha stanza 12

Sri Sadgurubhyoh Namah

The body is formed by a particular combination of five basic elements (Earth, Water, Fire, Wind, Space), and Atma undergoes pain and pleasure associated with the body. These experiences are in accordance with the Karma (previous actions and their results).

Atmabodha stanza 11

Sri Sadgurubhyoh Namah

The concepts like caste, colour, creed, religion etc appear to be imposed on Atman when it is seen in a Upadhi (body). This happens similar to water appearing to have colour, smell and taste.

In reality Atman does not have caste, creed, religion etc.

Hari Om

Atmabodha stanza 10

Sri Sadgurubhyoh Namah

As sky appears different owing to its association with different structural constructs, the all pervading truth appears different owing to its presence in different Upadhis (bodies). When different upadhis are gone, what remains is the omnipresence alone as before, which is liberation.

Atmabodha stanza 9

Sri Sadgurubhyoh Namah

All the ornaments are forms made of gold. The essential nature of all ornaments is gold. Similarly all the names and forms of the world, the manifested objects are made up of same Vishnu, the sat chit atma (existence, consciousness, bliss).

Atmabodha stanza 8

Sri Sadgurubhyoh Namah

The whole world is created, maintained, destroyed like a bubble on water in Parameswara, who is the upaadana (material cause) and support of entire universe

My Understanding :

The whole Universe is a thought like appearance in the Supreme Consciousness called Parameswara. Like a bubble raises, stays and gets destroyed in water, the Universe also raises, stays, and gets destroyed in Consciousness. There may be bubbles of different sizes, but essentially made up of same water (Consciousness).

Hari Om

Atmabodha stanza 7

Atmabodha stanza 7

Sri Sadgurubhyoh Namah

Oyster shell, when seen from a distance looks like silver. But it is only a silvery shining on close observation. Similarly the world appears real and permanent till we know the truth behind the world which is the indivisible and Supreme Self called Brahman.

My understanding : If we take ourselves as the body, then we are separate from world and everything appears real. The truth is that, the body, and the world are thoughts appearing in your consciousness, just as in dream you see yourself, and some other objects. When a dream is understood in relation to your waking state , the dream objects exist within the mind, they are not real. Similarly, the objects appearing in waking state including your body are thought patterns of your mind.

Atmabodha stanza 6

Atmabodha stanza 6

Sri Sadgurubhyoh Namah

The experience of world which is filled with attachments, aversions, love or hate, pain or pleasure and other dual experiences, is like a dream. A dream appears to be really happening as long as the dream continues, but appears unreal, when one is awake. Similarly one's experiences in this world appear real while happening but appear illusory when one attains Self-knowledge when they are given teaching of such vedic statements as Tatwamasi (Thou art that) and Aham Brahmasmi (I am Brahma) by a Sadguru and contemplation and meditation on such statements.

Atmabodha stanza 5

Atmabodha stanza 5

Sri Sadgurubhyoh Namah

The embodied soul, Jivatma, which is in ignorance is purified by knowledge through long and uninterrupted meditation, and then itself disappears as the powder of Kataka nut (cleaning nut) dissolves itself after precipitating impurities in muddy water.

Atmabodha stanza 4

Atmabodha stanza 4 

Sri Sadgurubhyoh Namah

Due to Ajnana or ignorance, Atma appears as limited. When this Ignorance is destroyed, Atma shines forth just as sun is appearing as emerging when dark clouds are dispersed.
Limitations one experiences with respect to body, mind, intellect are due to ignorance of Self. Jnana by the grace of Guru dispels these clouds of ignorance and Self is realized.

Atmabodha stanza 3

Atmabodha stanza 3 

Sri Sadgurubhyoh Namah

Through Karma(Action) one cannot destroy ignorance as it is not opposed to it. Wisdom or Jnana of Self alone destroys ignorance as darkness is destroyed by light. Actions fulfill one's desires. Therefore  action is in harmony with ignorance and cannot therefore directly destroy it. Here ignorance does not mean illiteracy or absence of secular knowledge. According to Vedanta knowing Self and abiding in Self is the only true jnana; all worldly knowledge is termed as ignorance (Ajnana or Avidya). Such jnana alone removes the ignorance.

Atmabodha stanza 2

Atmabodha stanza 2

Sri Sadgurubhyoh Namah

To cook something fire is most essential and necessary. Other things are secondary. Similarly for Moksha, wisdom (jnana) is essential and necessary.
This stanza emphasizes the importance of Jnana marga over other paths like karma, bhakti, kriya.

Atmabodha stanza 1

Atmabodha stanza 1

Sri Sadgurubhyoh Namah

Atmabodha is a short work by Adi Shankaracharya. This work gives the knowledge of Self, Jnana in a direct and concise way. Will be posting one stanza daily from this work.

1. This Atma Bodha is designed for the
benefit of those who got rid of sins by doing
penance, those who have a peaceful mind,
those who could overcome their cravings, and
those who are desirous of moksha or
liberation. --Atmabodha by Shankara