Drg-Drshya-Viveka - 12

"The one insentient subtle body which is constituted of mind and ego, goes through the three states, and it is born and dies." - Verse 12

Excerpt From Commentary

Within the gross body is the subtle body. It consists of 17 factors. They are 5 sense organs, 5 organs of action, 5 vital airs, the mind and the intellect. The entire assemblage is indicated here by its primary components, the mind and the ego. The gross body is made up of the 5 gross elements and the subtle body of their ungrossified forms. Being thus subtler than the gross body, it is called the subtle body. The 5 elements are inert and so their effects, the gross and subtle bodies are inert. The subtle body, however, has the capacity to reflect Consciousness and so appears sentient.

The individual is said to be born when the subtle body enters the gross body and begins functioning. When it packs up and departs, it is his death. It thereafter goes to another body, depending on its past vasanas (impressions). this process of unpacking, packing up and transfer is known as birth, death and transmigration. The gross body appears sentient when in association with the subtle body; and insentient when it disassociates.

The Self is unborn and immortal (verse 5). It is of the nature of Existence-Consciousness. It lends sentiency to all inert matter. The subtle body too does not die. It continues its journey in another body. Hence, neither should be mourned upon death.

The student raises a doubt: the Seer is of the nature of Pure Existence Consciousness. The ego, the three states it undergoes, the gross and subtle body and the world, being the seen, are inert. Other than Existence, everything is non-existence. Therefore, all that was described from verse 6 onwards is non-existent. The teacher affirms the statement with a smile. 'Then why do I experience the three states?' asks the student. The teacher retorts: 'That is my question to you. The world does not exist, why do you experience it?' The student seeks an explanation and hence the teacher says: 'It is due to maya.'