Class 57, Tattva Bodha

॥ तत्त्व बोध ॥ – … Tattva Bodha …

By Acharya Tadany, Summary – Class 57

Aug 17, 2025

Summary

The Three Components of the Individual

Acharya Tadany conducted a class on Vedanta philosophy, explaining the concept of the three main components of an individual:

• The Reflecting Medium (RM) — A material, mortal, and finite component subdivided into three bodies:
  • Sthūla Śarīram — The physical body
  • Sūkṣma Śarīram — The subtle body
  • Kāraṇa Śarīram — The causal body
• The Reflected Consciousness (RC) — The borrowed consciousness that makes the material medium sentient and capable of perception. This component is also finite and mortal, existing only as long as the reflecting medium exists.
• The Original Consciousness (OC) — The crucial third component that is infinite, unchanging, and immortal. It extends beyond the boundaries of the body-mind-sense complex and is the true nature of every individual.

The Two “I’s” — Mortal and Immortal

Acharya Tadany explained that every individual is a mixture of two identities:

• The Mortal “I” — The lower “I” consisting of the reflecting medium and reflected consciousness. This is finite, ever-changing, and subject to birth and death. Before studying Vedanta, we identify exclusively with this mortal “I.”
• The Immortal “I” — The higher “I” which is the original consciousness. This is infinite, unchanging, and never subject to death. Vedanta introduces students to this higher identity.

The goal of spiritual practice is to shift one’s identification from the mortal “I” to the immortal “I.” This shift represents the core teaching of the mahāvākyam (great statements) of Vedanta, specifically the teaching of jīvātmā paramātmā aikyam — the oneness between the individual self and the supreme Self.

The Mirror Analogy

Acharya Tadany used the analogy of a mirror and face to illustrate these concepts:

• The original face represents the original consciousness (OC)
• The mirror represents the reflecting medium (RM)
• The reflected face in the mirror represents the reflected consciousness (RC)

Just as the reflected image exists only because of the original face, the reflected consciousness exists only because of the original consciousness. Even though we cannot directly perceive the original consciousness, we know it must exist because we experience the reflected consciousness.

Freedom from Insecurity and Mortality (Mokṣa)

Acharya Tadany explained that understanding and claiming one’s higher nature leads to freedom (Mokṣa) from two fundamental fears:

• The sense of insecurity — arising from identification with the finite, changing body-mind complex
• The sense of mortality — arising from the belief that “I” will die when the body dies

These two senses originate all consequent fears in life, and their sum is called saṃsāra. Liberation means freedom from these fears while still alive (Jīvan Mukti), not an after-death promise.

The World Depends on Me

Acharya Tadany taught that the entire universe depends on the original consciousness (OC), not on the body-mind-sense complex. This means:

• “I” (as the original consciousness) do not depend on the world
• The entire world depends on “me” (the original consciousness)
• My true nature is Sat-Cit-Ānanda-rūpa — existence, consciousness, and bliss

The Actor Analogy

Acharya Tadany compared spiritual life to an actor playing various roles:

• The mortal “I” plays temporary roles: father, mother, son, daughter, employer, employee, friend, etc.
• The immortal “I” is like the actor who remembers their true identity even while fully engaged in the role
• The wise person (jñānī) plays life’s roles fully while never losing sight of their higher nature

Just as an actor laughs, cries, or gets angry according to the role without being affected by it, the wise person experiences life’s ups and downs without being impacted at the level of their true nature.

The Three-Step Practice (Jñāna Yoga)

Acharya Tadany described the process of assimilating this knowledge through three progressive stages:

• Śravaṇam (Listening) — Constantly exposing oneself to the teachings of Vedanta through regular study and classes
• Mananam (Reflection) — Removing doubts and vagueness through introspection, questioning, and intellectual conviction. This is not belief based on others’ words but one’s own conviction through reasoning.
• Nididhyāsanam (Meditation) — Dwelling upon and meditating on one’s higher nature until it becomes natural and spontaneous

Acharya Tadany used the analogy of learning to drive: at first it requires conscious effort and feels difficult, but with practice it becomes natural, and eventually spontaneous and effortless.

Living as the Immortal Self

When this knowledge becomes spontaneous, the practitioner achieves what the Bhagavad Gītā calls Brahma-niṣṭhā (established in Brahman), or what this text calls Jīvan Mukti (liberation while living):

• Success or failure does not shake one’s foundation
• Gain or loss, prosperity or adversity affect only the body-mind complex
• Old age and disease belong to the temporary costume, not to one’s true nature
• The original consciousness remains always safe, secure, peaceful, and unaffected

The glories of one’s higher nature are never impacted by the fluctuations of the lower nature.

The Final Topic of Tattva Bodha — Jñāna Phalam

Acharya Tadany concluded by introducing the next and final topic of Tattva Bodha: Jñāna Phalam, the results or benefits of this knowledge. This will be covered in the next class.

Acharya Tadany