Tattva Bodha - Post 17

Kaarana shareeram kim?

Anirvaachya, Anaadi, Avidya roopam;

shareera dvayasya kaarana maatram;

Sat-swaroopa ajnaanam;

nirvikalpaka roopam

yad asti tat kaarana shareeram.

What is the Causal Body?

That which is inexplicable, beginning less, and in the form of ignorance;

the sole cause of the two bodies (Subtle and Gross);

ignorant of one’s own true nature;

having a form that is free from all thoughts

such is that Causal Body.

Kaarana Shareeram – Causal Body

Kaarana Shareeram is also called the causal body. 

Material 

The material out of which this is made is called causal matter. The subtlest form of matter. Technically it is called Avidya. Normally Avidya means ignorance, but in this context it is different. 

Components 

The components of Kaarana Shareeram are nothing but Sthoola Shareeram and Sookshma Shareeram when they are in subtle or potential form before they were created. 

Hence Kaarana Shareeram consists of Sthoola Shareeram and Sookshma Shareeram in seed form before they were created hence before the origination of the world and before the origination of creation or Pralaya Kala. 

This is like, a tree a few years ago was not available in this form. Twenty years ago this tree was there but in potential form or unmanifest form. This is because tree cannot come without a seed. 

That being so, before the creation also, Sthoola Shareeram and Sookshma Shareeram must have existed in potential form. That potential form of the two bodies is called Kaarana Shareeram. 

And Kaarana Shareeram evolves into Sthoola Shareeram and Sookshma Shareeram, just as a seed evolves into tree. 

Functions 

It serves as the receptacle or ground or source from which these two bodies arise. 

From causal matter, subtle and gross matter arise. From subtle and gross matter, again causal matter conversion takes place. Hence the function is that the causal matter or Kaarana Shareeram serves as the store house for receiving the two Shareeram and again in the next Srishti (next birth of a human being) throwing the two Shareerams. 

From the definition in the above verse come three important facts about this ignorance: 

i) Anirvaachya: This is saying that the Causal Body (or Ignorance) is inexplicable. The very definition of this body is indefinable! 

It is neither Sat, nor Asat (neither Truth nor untruth). It has a conditional existence. It does exist – Vedanta accepts that – but the condition is “only while ignorance is there”. As soon as ignorance is removed by knowledge, the causal body vanishes.

ii) Anaadi: This tells us that the Causal Body is beginning less, it has no cause. Therefore it has not evolved out of anything. Logic tells us that if something has no cause, it has to be “beginning less”. 

iii) Avidya: Its form is nothing but deep ignorance. The Causal Body is a mass of homogenous ignorance, having no “parts”. We cannot remove our basic ignorance part by part; it has to be rooted out in one piece. 

From these three considerations, we can see that here we are dealing with something very major in the creation of this universe and in particular the human being. 

The physical body is inert. It has a beginning and an end. It is full of impurities. It is perishable. It is a product of five elements. It is full of parts. It can be seen by the naked eye. It is finite. It is changing. So, it cannot be self-existent, self-luminous, and Satchidananda.

The subtle body is also inert. It has a beginning and an end. It is a product of five Tanmatras or subtle elements. It is changing. It is perishable. It is also finite. This cannot be the ever pure, intelligent Atman.

The causal body is nothing but Ajnaana or primitive ignorance. It is also inert. Man says: I am a person of Ajnaana. Though it is beginning less, it has an end. It is death for the causal body when one gets Knowledge of the Self. This cannot be the eternal, pure, indivisible, infinite Atman.

The Atman is entirely distinct from the three bodies. He who has realised his Atman and who knows that he is entirely distinct from the three bodies is an emancipated person. He has crossed this ocean of Samsara. He is Brahman Himself. He is adored in the three worlds. His glory is indescribable.

Love.