Jiva

[Ms Tercy Lonan]

Jiva
The Jiva or the individual soul is enclosed within five sheaths (Kosas), which are like the
sheaths of an onion. The five sheaths are food-sheath (Annamaya Kosa), vital sheath (Pranamaya
Kosa), mental sheath (Manomaya Kosa), intellectual sheath (Vijnanamaya Kosa) and the
bliss-sheath (Anandamaya Kosa). The first sheath constitutes the physical body. The next three
sheaths form the subtle body. The last sheath forms the causal body. The individual soul should
transcend all its sheaths through meditation and become one with the Supreme Soul which is
beyond the five Kosas. Then only it will attain liberation or freedom.
There are three states of consciousness for the individual soul, viz., the waking state, the
dreaming state and the deep sleep state. Turiya or the fourth state is the superconscious state. Turiya
is Brahman. Turiya is the silent witness of the three states. The individual should transcend the first
three states and identify himself with the Turiya or the fourth state. Then only he can attain oneness
with the Supreme Soul.
Avidya is the causal body of Jiva or the individual soul. The Jiva identifies itself with the
body, mind and the senses on account of Avidya. It has the erroneous notion that the body is the
soul, just as one has the wrong notion that the rope is the serpent, in twilight. The moment the
individual soul is freed from the self-imposed ignorance by a proper understanding of the Truth
through the Vedanta philosophy, Vichara (enquiry), reflection and meditation on the Supreme
Brahman, all the illusion disappears. The identity of the Jivatman and of the entire phenomenal
world with the Supreme Soul or Brahman is re-established. The Jiva attains immortality and eternal
bliss. It merges itself in Brahman or the Ocean of Bliss.
Badarayana believes in Jivanmukti or Liberation While Living.