Jiva

MIND, MATTER AND GOD : JIVA, JADA AND ISVARA
M.M.NINAN
• Pāramārthika (paramartha, absolute), the absolute level, "which is absolutely real
and into which both other reality levels can be resolved". This experience can't be
sublated by any other experience.
• Vyāvahārika (vyavahara), or samvriti-saya[66] (empirical or pragmatical), "our
world of experience, the phenomenal world that we handle every day when we are
awake".[68] It is the level in which both jiva (living creatures or individual souls) and
Iswara are true; here, the material world is also true.
• Prāthibhāsika (pratibhasika, apparent reality, unreality), "reality based on
imagination alone". It is the level in which appearances are actually false, like the
illusion of a snake over a rope, or a dream.
Mukthi - Salvation
Thus Jiva (the living souls) who perceive themselves as separate realities are real as
long as they live The Jiva identifies itself with the body, mind and the senses, as it is
deluded by Avidya or ignorance When it realizes that “Tat Tvam Asi—That Thou Art.” ;
that which is seen as me is same as the Brahman, it releases from Samsara and
merges with the Brahman. This is salvation.
This is Nirguna Brahaman (total oneness and homogeneity). Because a monad
existing alone cannot have any properties of guna. This represents Nirguna Brahman.
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