SPIRITUAL DEBRIS
Spiritual debris is everything that is transient about a person, everything that is time-bound and will die. In Vedanta, this debris is called kosha. It refers to the five sheaths, or coverings, that are located one within the other, enveloping the Atman.
Beginning with the outermost sheath, they are:
(1) Annamaya-kosha, the gross physical sheath, which is nourished by food.
(2) Pranamaya-kosha, is the subtle or vital sheath, which energizes and holds together body and mind. As long as this vital principle exists in the organism, life continues. The gross manifestation of this sheath is breath.
(3) Manomaya-kosha, is the sheath of mind, which receives sense impressions.
(4) Vijnanamaya-kosha, the sheath of intellect, refers to the faculty that discriminates or wills.
(5) Ananadamaya-kosha, the sheath of bliss (the ego or causal body), is so called because it is nearest the blissful Atman.
The Atman remains separate from the sheaths and is unaffected by their properties. It is timeless and never dies. Everything else is so much dust in the wind.
Beginning with the outermost sheath, they are:
(1) Annamaya-kosha, the gross physical sheath, which is nourished by food.
(2) Pranamaya-kosha, is the subtle or vital sheath, which energizes and holds together body and mind. As long as this vital principle exists in the organism, life continues. The gross manifestation of this sheath is breath.
(3) Manomaya-kosha, is the sheath of mind, which receives sense impressions.
(4) Vijnanamaya-kosha, the sheath of intellect, refers to the faculty that discriminates or wills.
(5) Ananadamaya-kosha, the sheath of bliss (the ego or causal body), is so called because it is nearest the blissful Atman.
The Atman remains separate from the sheaths and is unaffected by their properties. It is timeless and never dies. Everything else is so much dust in the wind.
posted by Donald L. Simons at
4:24 PM
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