Tattva Vivekah

   (An enquiry into the nature of

                      Truth)

     How are we and the Lord related in this subtle creation?

         प्राज्ञस्तत्राभिमानेन 

                तैजसत्वं प्रपद्यते।

         हिरण्यगर्भतामीश-

                स्तयोव्यष्ठिसमष्ठिता।।   (24)

    The prājña, due to its identification in that individual subtle body attains the state of taijasa. Isvara (Lord) attains the state of Hiranyagarbha. The difference between these (taijasa and Hiranyagarbha) is one of individuality and totality.

    Identified with the individual casual body (kārana sarira) the individual is called prājnah. To fulfill his inherent desires, the individual subtle body is made to each prājñah's specification through of the will of the Lord. The subtle body becomes the means through which the individual body perceives, thinks, responds, enjoys and suffers (bhoga sādhanam). He considers himself the doer of actions (kartā) and enjoyer of results (bhoktā). When identified with the subtle body he is called taijasa 

(teja -- mind). When identified with the subtle body, the prājña himself is called taijasa, just as an accountant himself becomes the head-accountant when he gets promoted. Since the cause pervades the effect, that casual body is inherently present in the subtle body.

   The Truth or Brahman is all-pervading. Reflected in the individual causal and subtle body, It is called prājñah and taijasa respectively. Since there are innumerable living beings, there are innumerable prājñas and taijasas. When the Truth identifies with the total causal bodies (māya) and total subtle bodies, it is called Isvara and Hiranyagarbha respectively. Hiranyagarbha (Hiranya --- gold,

shining, Knowledge, garbhah --- womb, mind) is the Creator in whose mind the entire world exists, the very Source of all Knowledge, the Omniscient Lord of the universe.

     The individual created beings and the Creator are essentially one. The difference is only in the identification with the individual and total conditionings of the causal and subtle bodies.

Om. Swami Tejomayananda.

Will continue.