tman_and_moksa

SR No.: 020053
Original Sutra Author: N/A
Author: G N Joshi
Publisher: Gujarat University
Publication Year: 1965
Total Pages: 901
Language: English
Classification: Book_English
File Size: 12 MB

Page 66

Acharya Shri Kailashsagarsuri Gyanmandir
34
Atman and Moka
The Brahman is described as the Truth, Knowledge and Infinite. We get a full cosmology here. "From that Self (Brahman) sprang ether (Akās'a that through which we hear); from ether, air (that through which we hear and feel); from air, fire (that through which we hear, feel and see); from fire, water (that through which we hear, feel, see and taste); from water, earth (that through which we hear, feel, see, taste and smell). From earth, herbs, from herbs, food, from food, seed, from seed, man. Man thus consists of the essence of food." Thus it means that the human body which is corporeal cannot be formed without the various earthly matters which an individual derives from the plants and grains in the form of food. Human existence, thus, becomes impossible without food. From food is man born and on food he subsists. Therefore it is natural to suppose that the essence of man must be the food, the matter. Therefore, the essential nature or the soul of man can be said to be food.
But human life does not constitute only of food. The physical body formed out of the earthly matter is not all; over and above it is the vitality or the energy that sets the human body into activity is also indispensable. This vitality is expressed by means of the breath. Therefore it is further said — "Different from this, which consists of the essence of food, is the other, the inner Self, which consists of breath. The former is filled by this." It means the physical 1 Taitt. Up. 2.1.
स वै एष पुरुषः अन्नरसमयः ।
For Private And Personal