Essence of Vedanta - Part 8

Three bodies...continued....

Causal Body or Karana Sharira

"Causal body" is the only reason and acts as a map for the "Gross body" and "Subtle body" to form in the future incarnation of the soul, when they are not detached or freed from the soul.

This body is the door to the higher consciousness and is associated with the samadhi state and the dreamless sleep state. This body is a medium which connects the consciousness in the individual to the Universal consciousness.

All our past life experiences are stored in the "Causal body", as this body carries the information and knowledge obtained in the previous births. 

The attachment of "Worldly Illusion" or "Maya" and "Intensive desires for the worldly objects" and pleasures are known as "Vasanas", also get carried along this "Karana Sharira".

Causal body carries the information or knowledge acquired during the previous births. The infatuation and intense or deep desires for the worldly objects and pleasures, called vāsanā, goes along with it. Soul is firmly attached to this causal body or kārana sharira.

Kārana sharira consists elementally of Māyā, so it has all the characteristics of Māyā. 

It is described to have attributes like, anādi (without the beginning and end), avidyā (ignorant in nature) and anirvāchya (indescribable or inexplicable). 

On death the sthul and sukshma bodies become “dust unto dust” or parts of natural physical elements. But the causal body or kāran sharir, after death, goes with the non-liberated soul wherever the soul goes, unless, the soul is completely detached or freed from it.

The Karana Sharira is the cause of the other two bodies. Thus the Vasanas (residual impressions of desires and actions) of previous births which have yet to be worked out are the content of the Karana Sharira. 

It is this content which shapes the individual's desires and thoughts in the present life. Thus it is responsible for the birth of the Subtle Body.

With this, the Acharya has finished his discourse to his disciple on the 3 bodies and then he goes on to explain the 3 states of consciousness or in simpler words, 3 conditions/ states of mind of a human being !!

But before ending, He leaves you with a question- " Is there any thing, any existence which  activates the three bodies, which sustains the three bodies but still, its beyond the description off the three bodies????

Love.