Summary:

Vivekachudamani, Verse 33: From non-dual reality (“ekam eva advitīyam”), creation unfolds through 24 tattvas beginning with Mūla Prakṛti (Māyā/avyaktam), the unmanifest seed, evolving into Mahat Tattvam, Ahaṃkāraḥ, and 16 principles forming the subtle body – all constituting anātma/mithyā. This entire anātma is like maru-marīcikā: experienced but lacking independent existence. Worldly accomplishments appear alluring yet yield no lasting tṛpti – the promised satisfaction vanishes upon attainment, leaving one perpetually seeking the “next” thing.

Vivekachudamani – Verse 33: What is the Unmanifest?

अव्यक्तम् एतत् त्रिगुणैः निरुक्तम्
तत् कारणम् नाम शरीरम् आत्मनः
सुषुप्तिः एतस्य विभक्तिः अवस्था
प्रलीण-सर्व-इन्द्रिय-बुद्धि-वृत्तिः (१२०, अल्त् १२२)
avyaktam etat triguṇaiḥ niruktam
tat kāraṇam nāma śarīram ātmanaḥ
suṣuptiḥ etasya vibhaktiḥ avasthā
pralīṇa-sarva-indriya-buddhi-vṛttiḥ (120, Alt 122)

The unmanifest māyā appears as the three gunas and is the causal body of awareness (ātmā). Deep sleep, the state in which all the activities of the senses and the mind are resolved, is its subtlest state.

Chinmaya: The Unmanifest is said to be the three Gunas; it is verily the individual Causal Body; it is specially similar to “Deep Sleep”, since all functions of mind and senses are dormant.

Notes for this session are in lesson 27. Session's content is is from “The 24 Principles of Creation”, to the end.

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Recorded 15 Jan, 2026