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INTRODUCTION
The 36 Tattva-s (or divine principles) describe step-by-step how Supreme Consciousness makes itself appear to itself as limited consciousness stuck in a unconscious world and universe, and thus gets to experience the limited, conditional joys and sorrows of earthly existence, and then describes in a reverse step-by-step process, how that Supreme Consciousness then reveals its own true nature to itself, and thus experiences the outrageous joys of spiritual liberation.
4 PLANES OF EXISTENCE AND CONSCIOUSNESS
The 36 Tattva-s are divided into 4 groups representing the 4 stages of existence and creation, as well as the 4 states of awareness. These are:
The creation of the entire universe from pure cosmic consciousness takes place within the framework of these four planes of existence. This is described by 36 Principles (Tattva-s) of cosmic creation which are spread amongst the 4 levels as they describe the creative process as it flows down from Cosmic Consciousness to the physical level of creation. And it is these 36 Tattva-s that also describe the process of cosmic destruction, and the process of individual awakening that happens in human beings (Kundalini) when they come to know of this directly. These 36 Tattva-s also describe the process of Karma which determines the quality and nature of human life, of all life, and of the existence of the universe in the first place as it emerges from pure consciousness by the will and desire of God.
SUPRACAUSAL PLANE OF SUPREME CONSCIOUSNESS
This is the basic level of existence - of pure Cosmic Consciousness - Parama Shiva - the totally unlimited Supreme Consciousness, that exists everywhere, is eternal, and from which everything is created, and will return to eventually. This Supreme Consciousness is completely devoid of objects, features, or anything else other than pure unlimited consciousness. But from this pure consciousness the entire world is created. This creativity is contained within two basic conscious principles:
CAUSAL PLANE OF CONSCIOUSNESS, & DEEP SLEEP STATE
The activities of the supremely creative Shakti creates a condition of extremely limited consciousness stuck in a seemingly infinitely vaste unconscious world or universe, and this is what we actually experience of our consciousness - where we feel like our consciousness is so fragile, and so tiny - that it is stuck inside our heads, totally at the mercy of outside conditions, easily eradicated in a split second, as we struggle to survive in a huge totally non-conscious world which is dwarfed into insignificance within the incomprehensively vaste non-conscious universe in which it wanders in endless circles until its inevitable fiery demise.
This sense of difference and distance and unconsciousness is actually only a creation of a veiling power of Supreme Consciousness - a Shakti called Maya. Maya works via 5 aspects of its veiling power. This cloaking of Supreme Consciousness which creates the experience of limited consciousness thus is the basis of basic individual consciousness - called The Purusha (#12).
Thus is created the base level illusion of tiny limited consciousness existing insignificantly within an endless non-conscious expanse. That basic level of non-conscious expanse is called Prakriti (#13). But at this level, there is nothing to be conscious of - no worlds, or bodies, or even time or space. Thus thus stage is experienced as Void - non-conscious Void because all there is is the basic state of limited individual consciousness without any instruments or organs to sense with, in a non-conscious expanse without any objects or features or characteristics to be conscious of.
13. Prakriti: the basic condition of other - of something separate and different from one's own individual consciousness, which, thus is non-conscious.
SUBTLE PLANE & DREAM STATE
From the featureless ground of the Causal Plane (Prakriti), springs endless objects created out of pure consciousness by the Shakti-s of will, knowledge, and creative impulse. These objects by definition are limited and separate from each other - each and every characteristic moving and changing in time and space. These limitations are formed by the powers of limitation of the Shakti Maya (Kalaa, Vidya, Raga, Kaala, and Niyati).
First created, are the basic instruments of will and knowledge which direct the implementation of the instruments and organs of perception and action. Then from this are created the insturments and organs of perception and action, and then finally come the subtle and physical objects.
The Antahkarana (instrument of understanding, sense of identity, and other mental operations) which operates both in dreams and waking consists of 3 parts:
These instruments of mental functioning then employ limited powers of knowledge and perception (Jnana Indriya-s) which operates both in dreams and waking:
The instruments of mental functioning also employ powers of limited action (Karma Indriya-s) which operate both in dreams and waking:
Here are the Subtle Elements (Tanmatra-s) that make up subtle dream objects, that are perceived and acted upon by the Jnana Indriya-s and Karma Indriya-s.
GROSS PHYSICAL PLANE & WAKING STATE
Here are basic physical elements that make up physical objects (Bhuta-s) that are perceived by the powers of perception (Jnana Indriya-s), and acted upon by the powers of actions (Karma Indriya-s). This includes not only outside objects like cars and rocks, but also our bodies and the organs of perception and action by which we interact with those physical objects.
32. Akasha: space.
33. Vaya: air or gas.
34. Agni: fire
35. Ap: liquids
36. Prithivi: solids
SADADHVAN (6 Paths)
The 36 Tattvas are the principles of creation. These principles actually are part of a larger descriptive framework that includes lists of the worlds that are actually created according to these principles, and the subjective process by which these worlds arise from cosmic consciousness.
Follow this link to read more about the Sadadhvan.
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