Vedanta - Discussion Forum I (introductory))

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Cross posting Sundarji's reply, which is apt here.
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<!--QuoteBegin-->QUOTE<!--QuoteEBegin--> There are seven lokas. They are i) Bhuh ii) Bhubah iii) Swah iv) Janah v) Mahah, vi) Tapah and vii) Satya. <!--QuoteEnd--><!--QuoteEEnd-->


While I was reading this portion, I was reminded of a lecture our local group attended by a Swamiji from Chinmaya Mission who was visiting Canada last month. In the due course of the lecture he mentioned about the 14 lokas (which are Satya Loka, Tapo loka, Janaloka, Maharloka, Suvarloka, Buvarloka, Bhuloka, Atala, Vithala, Suthala, Talaathala, Rasaathala, Mahaathala, and Paathala in descending order.) While explaining the seven lokas above he mentioned that Bhuloka was this earth, Bhuvarloka was above the Sun, Suvarloka was above the polestar etc. A friend of mine, asked if this was actually physical locations or just metaphors that really did not exist.. Later, when comparing notes after the lecture, some argued that it REALLY existed - as it was mentioned in the puranas, while others called it humbug. (I am sure this is one of the famous doubts that 'intellectuals' often get.) I took a shot at it, and explained my understanding of the LOKA models in layperson terms. Hope it makes sense.

Most of us are aware of the famous OSI Model which makes communication between hetrogenous machines possible.

OSI Model here: http://www.cs.indiana.edu/classes/a338/i...eaders.gif

The Model begins with the physical layer which rests on the physical link that's "visible and tangible" to everyone. Then comes more subtler layers which are neither "real", nor "mythical metaphors" but purely concepts that can be explained as layers to make it easier to understand. If someone says, the data-link layer is 2 inches above the physical layer, and that the transport layer is 4 inches above the datalink and so on it would be laughable. These are neither "above" nor "below" anything. Thus, I can only show you the physical cable that connects two computers but cannot pinpoint to the different layers around the layers even if I take a magnification lens and search till end of eternity.

Extending on this simile, when two "applications" need to talk, it cannot directly do so. An application will send it's 'thoughts' to the lower layer, till it hits the physical level. Once it reaches the physical level it is conveyed "up the chain" by the other 'computer' and when the message reaches the other application and acknowledgement is done, the process is said to be complete.

In our case, the TOP level application is the same. An idea arises in the PARA, and this is conveyed via Pratyag, Madyama and Vaikhari (audible sound, produced by VAKH - the organ of action.) This sound waves travel via a medium (Space), till it is picked up by the physical layer (eardrums), conveyed to the sense organ (shravana indriya), this is conveyed to the manas, then to buddhi, then to ahamkara and finally to the Consciousness. IF any one of the links is missing (i.e. my sound does not reach you, or you cannot interpret the sound I make, or your mind is 'elsewhere' or you are unconscious) then the communication is incomplete.

The whole exercise of Advaita is to alienate the seven layers, fourteen lokas, five bhuthas, three kaalas, three gunas, three shariras, five koshas, twenty four thattvas, and whatever else is not that ONE. Then and only then will you become THE ONE.


Back to your example:

<!--QuoteBegin-->QUOTE<!--QuoteEBegin-->‘Param’ is the Moon itself in this example. Truth reflects in a pure and calm intellect as ‘Sat’, whereas in a disturbed intellect as ‘Asat’. <!--QuoteEnd--><!--QuoteEEnd-->


Here I have a clarification to make. According to Swami Vidyaranya's Panchadasi (Chapter 1), Maya is Shuddha-satva (Pure Sattva), and Avidya is impure sattva (i.e. Sattva mixed with Rajas and Thamas.) Now, the reflection of Brahman in Maya (Pure Sattva) is called EESHVARA, and the reflection of the very same Brahman in Avidya is called the JIVA. The difference is that, Eeshwara perfectly and completely controls Maya, while Jeeva is IN the control of Avidya. The former is the controller, while the latter is the controlled.

In the example of the moon, I am assuming it means the Brahman when reflected in a calm intellect is Sat (Eeshwara?) and in a turbulent mind is Asat (Jeeva?). Am I even close on my assumption.
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