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Here’s a bullet-point gist of your passage on the Causal Body and Self-Knowledge:
Causal Body (Karana Sharira)
The Causal Body is the subtle body of Ignorance (Avidya) that veils the true Self.
Understanding it is central to Self-knowledge (Atma Jnana) and liberation.
Three Key Characteristics of the Causal Body
Anirvachya (Inexplicable)
Cannot be fully defined; indescribable.
Neither Sat (absolute truth) nor Asat (nonexistence).
Conditional existence: persists only while ignorance exists.
Category: Mithya, like Maya (illusion).
Anadi (Beginningless)
No cause, no origin; eternal in its ignorance.
Exists as the counterpart of Truth, yet conceals the Self from perception.
Avidya (Ignorance)
Homogenous, indivisible mass of ignorance.
Cannot be removed partially; must be eradicated entirely.
Veils the true Self, causing identification with the other two bodies (gross and subtle).
Role and Impact
The Causal Body is the root of bondage and all false identification.
Leads to the Desire-lineage, drawing the individual away from Reality.
Liberation is achieved by destroying ignorance through Self-knowledge.
Once ignorance is removed, all derivative suffering and misconceptions vanish instantly.
Significance in Vedanta
It is the last portal before recognizing the true Self.
Though it is a mass of ignorance, it becomes the doorway to Self-discovery.
Knowledge of the Self transforms perception of the entire world.
✅ Summary Insight:
The Causal Body = Beginningless, inexplicable ignorance that veils the Self.
Liberation = Knowledge of the Self → eradicates Causal Body → unveils Truth.
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┌──────────────────────────────┐
│ SELF (Atman) │
│ Eternal, Sat, True Reality │
└─────────────▲────────────────┘
│
│ Realization through
│ Self-Knowledge
│
────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────
The Three Bodies (Coverings of the Self)
────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────
┌──────────────────────────────┐
│ 1. Gross Body (Sthula Sharira) │
│ - Physical, tangible, visible │
│ - Identification: “I am this body” │
│ - Impermanent, Mithya │
└───────────────▲─────────────┘
│
│ Veils the Self through attachment
┌──────────────────────────────┐
│ 2. Subtle Body (Sukshma Sharira) │
│ - Mind, intellect, senses, emotions │
│ - Identification: “I am my thoughts, mind, ego” │
│ - Temporary, Mithya │
└───────────────▲─────────────┘
│
│ Veils the Self through desires, ignorance
┌──────────────────────────────┐
│ 3. Causal Body (Karana Sharira) │
│ - Pure Ignorance (Avidya) │
│ - Beginningless (Anadi) │
│ - Inexplicable (Anirvachya) │
│ - Homogeneous mass of ignorance │
│ - Conditioned existence (Mithya)│
│ - Root cause of bondage │
└───────────────▲─────────────┘
│
│ Destroyed through Self-Knowledge
────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────
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