Avarana (Veiling)

Sri Tandavaraya Swami

Master: Cause and effect are the same, like cloth and yarn, ornaments and gold, utensils and clay. To resolve the body into antecedent cause, until avidya is traced as the root-cause of all, is the method of effacing superimposition.

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Avarana veils the inner vision of all embodied beings except unexcelled Ishwara and Self-realized jnanis, in the shape of 'It is not - It does not shine forth', in the same way as the dense darkness of a wintry night hides the sky, the earth and the directions from our view. 

Outwardly this altogether obstructs the distinguishing of Brahman who is Perfection, from His modifications (as the world), and inwardly that of the Self which is Pure Consciousness, from Its modifications (as the inner faculties, i.e., the ego, the mind). It is therefore the sole cause of that chronic disease, the endless series of births and deaths.

The question then arises: Whereon does the superimposition rest when the substratum is completely hidden? And how can there be any superimposition if the substratum is not hidden? The substratum is twofold - general and particular, of which the general substratum remains continuous and unbroken. Transient superimposition is particular.