Tadany Um refúgio para a alma e um convite à consciência.
Tattva Bodha – Class 41 Summary
Evolution of Elements, Sense Organs & the 24 Tattvas
Acharya Tadany | April 6, 2025
In this important class, Acharya Tadany continued the exploration of Samaṣṭi vicāra (cosmic level), detailing how the universe evolves from māyā through the subtle elements and how the three guṇas manifest as fundamental faculties in all beings.
Two Fundamental Factors Before Manifestation
– Brahman — The consciousness principle (sat-cit-ānanda). Called ātmā from the individual (vyaṣṭi) perspective and Brahman from the cosmic (samaṣṭi) perspective.
– Māyā — The entire universe in potential/seed form (also called avyakta or prakṛti). It is the causal universe (kāraṇa prapañca).
Both Brahman and māyā are anādi (beginningless).
The Three Guṇas and Their Faculties
Māyā possesses three guṇas, each corresponding to a fundamental faculty experienced by all living beings:
1. Sattva Guṇa – Jñāna Śakti (Power of Knowing)
– Enables learning, clarity, and perception through the five sense organs of knowledge (jñānendriyāṇi).
2. Rajas Guṇa – Kriyā Śakti (Power of Acting)
– Enables action, response, and performance in the world.
3. Tamas Guṇa – Dravya Śakti (Power of Resting)
– Provides rest, recharge, and rejuvenation — primarily through sleep.
These three faculties operate cyclically in daily life: knowing → acting → resting.
Law of Causation
Kāraṇa guṇāḥ kārye anuvartante — The properties of the cause continue in the effect.
This explains why each subtle element inherits the guṇas and properties of the preceding ones, and why children inherit characteristics from parents.
Evolution of the Five Subtle Elements (Pañca Sūkṣma Bhūtāni)
| Element | Sanskrit Name | Unique Property | Sense Organ | Total Properties |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Space | Ākāśa | Śabda (Sound) | Śrotra (Ears) | 1 |
| Air | Vāyu | Sparśa (Touch) | Tvak (Skin) | 2 |
| Fire | Agni/Tejas | Rūpa (Form/Color) | Cakṣu (Eyes) | 3 |
| Water | Jala/Āpaḥ | Rasa (Taste) | Rasanā (Tongue) | 4 |
| Earth | Pṛthivī | Gandha (Smell) | Ghrāṇa (Nose) | 5 |
Each element inherits all properties of the previous ones and adds its own unique quality (viśeṣa-guṇa).
Three Stages of Manifestation
1. Kāraṇa Prapañca — Causal universe (māyā in potential form).
2. Sūkṣma Prapañca — Subtle universe (evolves from causal).
3. Sthūla Prapañca — Gross/physical universe (final manifest stage).
The process is gradual and evolutionary, like a seed slowly growing into a tree.
The Inner Organ (Antaḥkaraṇa)
The mind, intellect, memory, and ego are not four separate organs but four functional names for the single antaḥkaraṇa (inner instrument), which evolves from the sattva aspect of the five subtle elements:
1. Manas — Doubting and thinking function.
2. Buddhi — Deciding and discriminating function.
3. Cittam — Memory and storing function.
4. Ahaṅkāra — Self-identification function (“I-sense” — not arrogance, but the sense of individuality).
The 24 Tattvas (Principles)
The complete subtle cosmology includes:
– 5 subtle elements (pañca sūkṣma bhūtāni)
– 19 instruments:
– 5 jñānendriyāṇi (sense organs of knowledge)
– 5 karmendriyāṇi (sense organs of action)
– 5 prāṇas (vital forces)
– 4 aspects of antaḥkaraṇa
Total: 24 Tattvas
Important Reminder from Acharya Tadany
Despite the elegance and fascination of this cosmology, all of this manifestation — however subtle — is still anātmā (not-Self).
The ultimate goal of the spiritual seeker is not merely to understand the process of creation, but to recognize the consciousness principle (ātmā/Brahman) that underlies and enlivens all manifestation.
Key Takeaways
1. Māyā operates through three guṇas: sattva (knowing), rajas (acting), and tamas (resting).
2. The five subtle elements evolve sequentially, each inheriting previous properties.
3. Manifestation is a gradual process: kāraṇa → sūkṣma → sthūla.
4. The inner organ (antaḥkaraṇa) has four functional aspects: manas, buddhi, cittam, and ahaṅkāra.
5. The 24 tattvas constitute the subtle universe and instruments of experience.
6. All of this, however fascinating, remains anātmā. The real goal is to know the ātmā/Brahman that supports everything.
This class beautifully connects daily human experience with cosmic evolution, showing how the same three guṇas operate at both micro and macro levels.
Hariḥ Om
Acharya Tadany
