After negating all the other systems
of philosophy, Gowdapadha is summarizing vedantic teachings of Mandukaya
Upanishad, from 29 to 46th verses.  He summarized with the help of dream
example.  From 47th verse to 56th verse, he is summarizing the same
teaching by changing the example.

Alantham means torch – a flaming
fire with a handle.  For our study, we will take incense stick as
alantham, instead of the fire with a handle.  The glowing fire tip is
compared to Brahma Chaithanyam.  We are taking this incense stick with a
glowing tip in a dark room.  You are moving in the dark room, creating
many patterns.  These patterns are generated by the motion of the fire
tip.  These patterns can be straight, circular – you can get any number of
patterns with the motion of fire tip.  These pluralistic patterns are
compared to dwaida prabanja – objects of the world.  So alandham is
compared to Brahman and the patterns are compared to dwaida prabanja.

1. Ekam and anekam:  This incense stick has one
   glowing stick whereas the patterns are anekam or dwaidam.  Similarly,
   Brahman is ekam and the dwaida prabanja is anekam.
2. Swayamparakasam and paratha prakasam:  The glowing
   fire tip is self-effulgent or self-revealing or self-evident; similarly
   Brahman is also self-effulgent or self-evident or self-revealing.. 
   Dwaida prabanja is paratha prakasm.
3. Karanam and kariyam:  When this glowing tip is in
   motion because of its motion, varieties of pattern are generated.  Therefore,
   the moving fire tip becomes the karanam or cause.  The patterns are
   kariyam.
4. Sudandaram and parathantharam:  This alantham or
   fire tip can exist independently in the dark room; whereas the patterns
   can’t exist independently.

We can extend this that one fire tip
in motion appears as many patterns; similarly, chaithanyam is responsible for
the appearance of the prabanja.  In jagrath and swapna, the chaithanyam is
in motion because of thought and therefore there is the appearance of jagrath
prabanja and swapna prabajna; in shusukthi, chaithanyam is not in motion,
because thoughts are not in motion and we do not experience jagrath prabajanja
or swapna prabanja.  There is no dwaida prabanja other than chaithanyam.

1. In the case of fire tip, the motion is a real
   phenomenon; in the case of chaithanyam the motion is an apparent motion
   caused by thoughts or maya.  When the maya ends, when there are no
   thoughts in sushukthi, there is no objects.  Chaithanyam sathyam and
   jagath mithya.  Chaithanyam doesn’t have real motion only seeming
   motion.
2. We do say that the fire tip is the karanam and the
   patterns are kariyam.  We initially accept this karana kariya
   sambandha.  But later we reject this karana kariya sambantha because
   sambandha requires two things; but alandham and abasa can’t be counted as
   two because the patterns do not exist separate from the incense
   stick.  They are together as one substance.  We initially accept
   clay as the karanam and pot as the kariyam.  Later we do not accept
   this because there is no substance called pot.  They are two names
   for the same substance.  Similarly, we do not accept karana kariya
   sambandha between Brahman and Jagath; they are both one and the
   same.  Motionless consciousness is Brahman, moving consciousness is
   world; there is not kariya karana sambandha.  Brahman is beyond
   kariyam and karanam

At micro level, this is caused by
thought and at macro level is is caused by maya.  There is no world
separate from consciousness in motion.

In the next sloka, the vethireka
logic is discussed.  When there is no fire tip, there is no pattern. 
When consciousness is absent, the world doesn’t exist.  Therefore, there
is no world separate from the consciousness.  Anvaya is co-present and
vethireka is co-absent.

Verse 48

Patterns are no more created or
generated when there is no fire tip.  Only the motion of fire tip causes
the pattern.  If the patterns are not there, this fire tip can no longer
be called the cause or akaranam.  When there are no patterns, kariyams are
not there and therefore there is no kariyam.  In the same way, when the consciousness
is without motion – when maya is not there in cosmic lever (pralayam) or when
thoughts are not there (sushukthi) – there is no objective world.  When it
is without dwaida prabanja, consciousness is not even a karanam.  Only
when there is a prbanja then alone you can say it is a kariyam.  Therefore,
there is no jagat separate from chaithanyam.

Verse 49

When you try to analyze the nature
of the appearance of those patterns, when the alantham is in motion, the
patterns appear.  Do the patterns come from outside and they are sticking
to the alantham.  Can you say the patterns come from inside out of the
fire tip?  Patterns do not come from inside or outside of the fire
tip.  Similarly, when the alantham comes to rest, then all the patterns
disappear.  Where did they go?  Do the patterns go outside the
alantham or did they go inside the alantham?  You can’t say they come from
outside; or inside; you can’t say they go inside or outside.  Similarly,
when the world appears and disappears, you can’t say the world come from inside
or outside of Brahman.  When the pralayam happens, you can’t say it went
inside or outside of Brahman.  Because there is no substance called
pattern; since there is no substance called pattern, you can’t discuss its
arrival or departure.  Similarly, you can’t discuss the arrival or
departure of the world, because there is no substance called world.

Verse 50

1. Patterns do not come from inside the fire tip. 
   The patterns do not emerge from the fire tip.
2. Patterns do not come from outside the fire tip. 
   When the fire tip is in motion, you do see the pattern, but they do not
   come outside.
3. Patterns do not go outside the fire tip.  When the
   fire tip is not in motion, the patterns disappear, but they do not go
   outside.
4. Patterns do not go inside the fire tip.

Why is it we are not able to
logically explain the pattern?  Because we assumed that the pattern is a substance
similar to assuming bangle is a substance.  We have made a similar
assumption regarding the world also.  All these problems are because
patterns are not substantial; it is a mere nama and roopa.  When substance
is not there, how can you talk about arrival or departure.  World never
comes, never goes because world never is.  Pattern never comes; pattern
never goes; because pattern never is.  The patterns do not have an isness
of their own and that isness belongs to fire tip.  This is mithya. 
If you practice this method of thinking, you will understand that bangle, table
etc. are nama roppa.  Later you have to extend this to the whole universe.

With regards to Brahma chaithanyam,
you have to extend the same argument also.  Dwaida parbanja is also an
appearance like the pattern.  Consciousness in motion appear as akasa,
vayu, agni, jalam, earth, sthula sareeram, sukshma sareeram, sthula parabanja,
shukshma prabanja.  This is difficult but the ultimate truth

Verse 51

Gowdapatha gives the same four statements
for consciousness also.  Verse 51 and 52 are similar to verse 49 and 50.

When consciousness is in motion, the
dwaida prabanja appears but you can’t say it is real.

Because there is no substance called
world.  It is nothing but nama and roopa; consciousness itself in motion
is mistaken is world.

1. Dwaida prabanja does not come from consciousnes
2. Dwaida prabanja does not from outside consciousness
3. dwaida prabja does not go inside the consciousness
4. Dwaida prabnja does not go outside the consciouss.

After negating other systems of
philosophy Gowdapatha is summarizing the teachings of Mandukya Upanishads in
verse 29 onwards.  He repeatedly asserted that Brahman alone is the
ultimate reality and he is beyond time and space and therefore beyond cause and
effect.  Cause and effect are possible only within time.  However, we
experience dwaida prabanja and therefore we don’t question or negate the
experience of duality; we don’t question or negate the utility of the duality;
we don’t question the orderliness of the world.  We question its absolute
reality; it can never be absolute reality because the real world can’t be born
out of Brahman.  The world is experienceable and useful but not absolute
reality and that is called mithya.  It is similar to dream, which is
useful, experienced and orderly but it is not absolute reality.  Even
though the world is not absolutely real, in the beginning stages a seeker will
find it extremely difficult to accept this fact.  Veda recognizes this
difficulty of the student; The students refuse to accept because the world is
tangible, perceivable and orderly.  Even though they intellectually
convinced of the absolute reality, Brahman, but emotionally they have
difficulty in negating dwaidam.  Dwaidam is required for relationships.

Vedanta temporarily compromises with
adwaidam and claim there is dwaida prabanja.  Upanishad declares the panja
poodham came from Brahman; from that shuksham sareeram and sthula sareeram
came.  This elaborate creation is mentioned in Upanishads as a
compromise.  Several devadas are introduced for Bakthi etc. 
Gowdapadha says this is temorary and not permanent.  This temporary
acceptance is called adhya rohapa.  The later negation is called
apavadhaha.

“Loneliness is samsara; Being alone
is moksha”

Verse 43

The beginners continue to be afraid
of advaidam and they argue against advaidam and in favor of dwaidam,.  The
reasoning is because dwaidam is experienced, tangible, orderly, is useful; it
provides for scope for relationship which gives security.  Vedanta
compromises; any compromise will have dosham and teaching this dwaidam will
have some dosha for the students; the students will get attached to those
deities.  The students were attached to the world, but now they are
attached to a few deities and their forms.  This disadvantage is there
when dwaidam is first introduced.  This very same dwaidam will gradually take
him out of it to advaidam.  Therefore, dwaidam is a necessary compromise
in the initial stages for the sake of immature students.  This is similar
to doctors prescribing medicine even though there are side effects.

Verse 44

Even though the world appears to be
real because of its experience, orderliness, tangibility, utility etc. it is
not absolutely real.  Gowdapadha gives another example of a magic show
conducted by a magician.  A magical elephant appears as a real elephant
even though there is no elephant at all.  Ignorant people argue that the
dwaida pranbanja exists similar to this elephant.

Verse 45

The appearance of origination of the
world; the appearance of the substantiality of the world; the materiality of
the world; the motions of the world, in the form of arrival and departure;
these are all are nonfactual; the fact is only Brahman.  Birthless Brahman
alone appears as born universe; similarly, motionless brahman appears as the
moving world; the non-material conscious alone appears as material
universe.  The wall is made up of atoms, which are 90% space; but the wall
appears solid, even though it is 90% space; similarly, brahman appears as
material objects in the universe.

Verse 46

Gowdapadha concludes this series of
discussion that started from verse 29.

Chaithanyam is never a cause or an effect;
since consciousness birthless, all jivas are birthless.  If jivas are not
born at all, there is no question of rebirth at all; there is no need to work
to avoid puner jenma.  We don’t solve the problem of punar jenma, but we
dissolve the problem; there is no problem requiring a solution; there is no
punar jenmam to avoid.  This is the teaching of the Upanishad.  Every
seeker has to come to this knowledge that I the advaidam Brahman; jiva, jagat
eeswara division is mithya; swami, dasa, peda is mithya;

• Soham:  I am god (Advaidam)
• Dasoham: I am dasa of god (Dwaidam)
• Sadasoham:  I am always god (Advaidam)
• Dasadasham:  I am always dasa of god (Dwaidam)

This argument goes on forever.

Advaidam sees dwaidam as a means but
not an end in itself.  Only by advaida gyanam a person can save from
himself from falling into samsara; punar jenma;

Verse 47

Up to 46 verse, Godapadha presented
the summary of vedanta with the help of dream example and magic example. 
From 47th verse, he is taking another example to convey vedantic
teaching:  Alatha dhrishta vadha; this example is from verse 47 to verse
56;  This chapter got the name because of this example.  In this
example, Brahman is compared to a small tip of fire, agni.

Beginning from 29 verse, Gowdapadha
is giving the teaching of vedanta as presented by Mandukya Upanishad.  The
experienced universe has to be extended to jagradh prabajna and swapna
prabanja.  Both worlds are experienced universe and anything experienced
is mithya.  Even though the jagradh and swapna prabanja are different,
they are mithya.  We are only negating the absolute reality of the
experienced universe and not the relative reality.  Relative reality means
for its own time and for its own observer that will be real.  In swapna
all the objects will be real because there will be relative validity will be
there.  When you find out absolute reality, all of them will be
negated.  For the dreamer the waker’s world is invalid and for the waker
the dreamer’s world is invalid.  The only validity is the
consciousness.  The practical benefit of this knowledge is whatever
happens in mithya field can’t affect the sathyam, adhishtanam.  The
objects in this world, including time and space cannot affect or limit
me.  The freedom from this mithya world is the benefit.

Verse 40

The entire prabanja are
mithya.  The world is mithya, doesn’t have absolute reality and therefore
an absolutely real world has not come out of Brahman.  Similar to half the
cup is full or half cup is empty, you can say either unreal world is born, or a
real world is not born.  Therefore, you can’t discuss karana kariya
sambandha. Gowdapdha takes four types of possible kariya karana sambandha or
cause effect relationship and negates every one of them:

1. Asat vasthu Can’t’ produce an asat vasthu.  A nonexistent
   thing can’t produce a nonexistent thing, because a nonexistent thing can’t
   produce anything.  A human horn produces a rabbit’s horn; A human
   horn can’t produce anything let alone a nonexistent rabbit horn.
2. Asat vasthu can’t produce a sat vasthu.  A nonexistent
   thing can’t produce an existent thing.  From nothing, nothing can
   come.
3. A sat vasthu can’t produce a sat vasthu.  An
   existent thing can’t produce an existent thing.  From clay we are
   able to produce pot; so, sat seems to be produced.  So superficially
   looking, there appears to be kariya karana sambandha between clay and
   pot.  But there is no cause effect relationship between clay and
   pot.  Any relationship requires two entities.  Without duality
   you can’t talk about any relationship.  Clay and pot are not two
   distinct substances to have a relationship.  They are two different
   names given to the same substance.  Previously it was called clay and
   now it is called pot because the shape has changed.  Clay and pot are
   one and the same substance at different time.
4. A sat vasthu can’t product an asat vasthu.  An
   existent thing can’t produce a non-existent thing.  A nonexistent
   thing can’t be produced.  This is also grammatically wrong; saying a nonexistent
   thing is born is grammatically wrong.

Conclusion is nothing is born; there
is no creation at all.  The creation we talk about is a wrong name for
Brahman because of ignorance.  An ignorant people call snake, a wise
person calls rope.  There are only two dhrishti – agya dhrishi and vigya
dhrishty.  Mistaken Brahman is world.  Mistaken consciousness is
matter.  There is no matter at all.

Verse 41

This mistake of taking Brahman as
world is committed by all people in jagradh and swapna avastha.  We commit
the same mistake in both jagrath prabanja and swapna prabanja.  First, I
take the rope as snake, you get closer and call it as garland.  You have
progressed from mistake 1 to mistake 2.  Similarly, we only progress from
swapna to jagradh. In sushukthi, we do not commit the error, but when you wake up,
we continue to commit the error.  We continue to commit this error in the
next jiva and shrishty.  This mistake is corrected only by gyanam.

Nothing wrong in pursuing a mithya
object if one has the knowledge it is mithya.  Nothing wrong in going to
movie, with the understanding it is a movie.  the moment the movie is
over, you understand that it is only a movie.  Nothing wrong in pursue the
mithya world as husband, wife etc.  as long as we realize it is
mithya.  Perceiving mithya is not wrong; but taking it as sathyam is
tragedy; erroneous perception.  We commit this mistake not only in jagradh
avastha but continue in swapna avastha.  In dream also we perceive unreal
objects, when I am actually in dream, they appear very real.  If you can
see the dream with the knowledge that it is dream, then you can enjoy it. 
Samsara continues in both swapna avastha and jagrah avastha.  This is one
reason for exhausting karma in swapna avastha.  In dream, even though the
sick person has not died, we dream as though that person is dying.  That
dream experience shakes a person so much, that exhausts karma.

Verse 42

Ultimate truth is there is no
duality at all.  Brahman alone was, Brahman alone is and Brahman alone
will be.  There is nothing other than Brahman.  Majority of humanity
is not prepared to accept this teaching.  How can I accept this tangible
world as unreal?  The world is outside, it is tangible, and it has its own
functions perfectly according to order.

1. First problem is majority can’t accept the negation of
   the world.
2. Second problem is that we all feel we need relationship
   with people around to feel secure and comfortable.  Relationship is
   possible only in dwaidam and not in advaidam.  As a result, everyone
   considers dwaidam as security.  They consider advaidam is insecurity
   because in advaidam no relationship is possible.  If there is a
   person with no relationship, the world looks up on those people
   negatively.  Advaidam is looked up on as a status of orphan. 
   When there is such a well-entrenched notion, people do not accept
   advaidam.  That is why, advaidam is not discussed in the beginning.  In the beginning veda accepts dwaidam and
   talks about jivatma, paramatma and world.  At that point, it also
   accepts creation also.  Brahman is accepted as cause and world is
   accepted as result with a hope that the student will gradually become an
   uthama adhikari.  Until then shrishti is accepted.  They say experience
   is reality, but it is not a proof for reality e.g dream.  They also
   say the world is in perfect order.

After negating the other dharshanam
up to verse 28, now Gowdapadha is summarizing the Vedantic teaching, the
teaching given in Mandukya Upanishad.  The essence of this teaching is
Brahman is alone is sathyam; Sathya Brahman is none other than jiva, I the
consciousness principle alone is the ultimate reality and everything else is
mithya.  This mithya jagat consists of jagradh prabanja and swapna
prabanja.  Unreal does not mean it is not real, but not absolute reality
but only empirical or relative reality.  Relative reality means jagrath
prabanja is real from the standpoint of waker, but it is unreal from other standpoint
of taijasa or thiruyum.  Similarly, swapna prabanja is very real from the
stand point of dreamer, but it is not real from the stand point of waker let
alone the stand point of thuriyum.  Relative standpoint means the relative
standpoint of the observer.  Even when it doesn’t have absolute reality, the jagradh
and swapna prabanja are experienceable and it can be experienced. 
Experience of the world will continue even though it does not have absolute
reality.  In waking state jagradh prabanja will be experienced; in dream
state the swapna prabanja will be experienced.  Vedanta does not negate experience. 
The utility of the objects is also not negated.  The dream water, food
etc. will have their utility in dreams.  Divisions are not negated. 
Vedanta only removes the absolute reality which we attach to this world. 
After that we continue to experience the world, but it does not get the
absolute reality.  The world will give samsara only when you attach
absolute reality.  Whatever is not absolutely real, cannot give
security.  Whatever only relative reality can’t be relied up on.  You
can rely up on only sathya vasthu – it is none other than I the witnessing
changing jagradh and swapna prabanja.  For all practical purposes jagradh
and swapna are the same.

When you are in dream, you will not
accept it is unreal.  In dream, if someone asks about jagrath prabanja,
they will state that there is no jagradh prabanja.  If you wake up in one
moment, everything in dream will all wake up.  From Taijasa to viswa ,
swapna prabaja goes away.  From viswa to thiriuum through wisdom, jagradh
prabnaja will go away similar to swapna.

Verse 36

When you are in dream, we experience
a body in dream.  With that dream body alone, I do all the
transaction.  This body is called vasana maya sareeream, because that
physical body, I have protected with my own mind or thoughts.  During
dream I do not look up on them thoughts body, but as tangible body. With that
body I travel, eat etc.  But that body is mithya body projected by
mind.  Because on waking up, there is another non traveling body,
lying on the bed.  From that it is clear, that body alone relatively real,
swapna body is mithya.  That body is stationery and does not move with the
dream body.  After waking up, I commit the same mistake and say this body
is real.  But this body is also exactly like swapna sareeream.  Swapna
sareeram appears real in swapna avastha; similarly, jagradh sareeram is real
only in jagradh prabanja.

Anything experienced is
mithya.  Because the absolute reality is never an object of an
experience.  Not experienceable with any instrument.  From this we
get that whatever we experience is not reality.  Just as the dream body is
unreal, any object of consciousness is unreal.  Consciousness alone is real,
and that consciousness is you tat twam asi.  I the observer alone is
absolute reality and whatever I experience is relative reality or mithya.

Verse 37

Generally, we accept that swapna
prabanja is caused by jagradh prabanja.  Because jagradh prabanja alone
gives variety of experiences that registered in the mind, becomes vasana and
those vasanas are activated in dream.  We dream only what we experience in
jagradh prabanja.  Jagradh prabanja is karanam and swapna prabanja is
kariyam.  There is a kariya karana sambandha between jagradh prabanja and
swapna prabanja.  That is why the experiences in jagradh and swapna are
similar.  In jagradh prabanja also there is desa (space), kala (time) and
thritupdi (subject, object, instrument).  In swapna also we have these
three.  If they are similar in all respects, then you can extend to
mithaythvam as well.  Swapna prabanja is mithya, therefore jagradh
prabanha is also mithya.  Each prabanja will appear real in that
condition.  Swapna prabanha will appear real for the swapna observer
during swapna avastha; Jagrath prabanja will appear real for jagradh observer
during jagradh avastha.

Swapna prabanja is a product of
jagradh prabanja.  Since swapna and jagradh have karana kariya sambandham,
jagradh prabanja is real only for jagradh observer, just as swapna prabanja is
real only for swapna observer.

Verse 38

There is no real creation at all,
and Brahman can’t be a cause or karanam.  Brahman is kariya karana
vilakshanam.  A real creation can never be proved logically.  Therefore,
there is no creation.  Everything which you look up on as creation is not
creation – it was Brahman, it is Brahman and it will ever be Brahman. 
While discussing sankya and gyana philosophy, we asked does an existent pot
originate or a nonexistent pot originate.  The answer is neither because
an existent port can’t originate as it already exists.  A nonexistent product
can’t originate because it doesn’t exist.

Verse 39

Karana jagradh prabanja and kariya swapna
prabanja is also mithya.  You experience a mithya jagradh prabajna which
product a mithya vasana which produces a mithya swapna prabanja.  In
jagradhavastha I experience a mithya jagradh prabanja.  Because of
ignorance, I look up on it as sathyam.  Out of that experience I get the
vasanas – it gets registered in the memory.  Jagrath avastha is like VCR
and swapna prabanja is like VCP.  Certain vasanas are feeble; certain
vasanas are strong.  With those vasanas, the same events appear in
swapna.  When you watch the jagrath, you swear that jagrath is real; when
you see the same in swapna you will swear that is real; but both are
mithya.  From the thuriya dhrishti, you can boldly say this prabanja is
mithay.  Now we are trying to negate the world from the standpoint of
waker.  You should never negate the world from the waker standpoint. 
When you wake up from dream, the dream expreince will disappear.  When you
become a gyani, the jagradh prabanja won’t disappear; experiences will
continue.  It is like continuing the dream, knowing that it is a
dream.  Gyani will continue to see the world with the knowledge that it is
another dream.

Class
62

Up to verse 28, Gowdabadha analyzed
sankya dharshanm from asthika group and bowdhika dharshanam from nasthika
group.  From the analysis he stated that there is no independent world
separate from the observer.  The observer is I the Thuriua chaithanyam and
not Viswa or Hiranyagarba or Pragya.  We do not negate the experience of
the world but only the reality.  Similar to not negating the experience of
dream but only the reality of dream.  Experience cannot be proof for reality. 
In dream we see that law doesn’t hold true.  Dream is very well
experienced but up on waking up we find out it is not real.

After refuting other dharshanam,
Gowdabadha restates vedanta in verses 29 to 46.  In the 29th verse,
Gowdabdha mentions two important things:

1. Intrinsic nature of a thing can’t undergo a
   change.  Heat, which is the intrinsic nature of fire, will never
   change.  Fire will always be hot under all circumstances.
2. The intrinsic nature of Brahman, nirvikaratvam –
   changelessness, beyond time and space.  Whatever is subject to time
   is subject to onslaught of time.  Brahman is not subject to
   time.  Brahman is always ajam.  If Brahman is intrinsic nature
   is nirvakaratvam, it can never become karanam of anything.  To be a
   cause it has to undergo change.  Therefore, Brahman never produced a
   world and therefore there is never a thing called world.  World is
   crystallized confusion.

Verse 30

Gowdabadha wants to convey that
moksha can’t be an event happening in time.  If you look upon yourself as
a samsari and working towards moksha, you will get it.  Even if you get
moksha in time, it will not be a moksha.  If moksha is something that
happens in future, then it will have a beginning and then it should also have
an end.  Moksha should be understood as dropping the notion that I am
bound.  There is no moksha other than an intellectual event, dropping the
notion that I am bound now.  The dropping that misconception is figuratively
called moksha.

Gowdabahda gives an
assumption.  Let us assume that there is an external world outside, then
dwaidam will become reality – observed, observer.  Then the question will
be when did the dwaidam or the world come?  Did karma come first, or body
come first.  You will have difficulty explaining when did the world come. 
If creation or world or samsara is anadhi – beginning less.  Will this
beginning-less samsara end or not? If samasara is beginning less and therefore
it is endless, then no moksha is possible.  If moksha is impossible then
why should I do all the sadhanas.  If samsara is beginning less but it
will end when you keep doing sadhanas, then the end of samsara will be
beginning of moksha.  A moksha which has a beginning will have an end
also.  The moksha will be anithya moksha – temporary.  It is as good
as no moksha, because by definition moksha is nithya.  Therefore, you
should never accept moksha.  Working for moksha should be dropping the
notion that I have samsara.

Let us assume that the
beginning-less samsara ends, then moksha will have the beginning.  It will
be followed by an ending.  There will not be permanence.  Therefore,
the correct approach is I am mukthaha, I was mukthaka and I will be mukthaha

Verse 31

Gowdabadha repeats ideas given in
second and third chapter.  Many verses are repeated from those chapters.
  This verse is repetition of sixth verse of the second chapter.

Any product that you talk about
which has a temporary duration does not have a real existence at
all.   If you take the example of a pot, before the manufacture the
pot was not there and after the destruction the pot was not there. 
Between the two the pot appears to be there.  When you inquire deeply, we
find that there is no pot all.  Pot is a new name given to ever present
clay.  Pot is not a new substance, but a new name and shape given to clay. 
Every product only has a nominal verbal existence with no substance.  When
you remove the clay, you will not find the pot.  The creation as a whole,
it is a kariyam.   The “Isness” of the world belong to
Brahman.  Every product is a word initiated by your tongue.  The
product is nonexistent in the past and it is nonexistent in the present
also.  It is considered as though real by ignorant people.  From wise
persons’ perspective Brahman alone is permanent.

Verse 32

This verse is seventh verse of
second chapter.

Previously we said experience is not
the proof of reality.  Here he says, even the utility is not the proof of
reality.  Vedanta accepts the utility of the world for eating, drinking
etc.  Vedanta never negates the utility of the world, similar to not negating
the experience of the world.  But vedanta says I accept the utility of the
world, but it is not proof for reality, it is still mithya.  Similar to
dream where dream food alone is useful in dream.  But on waking up, in
spite of its utility we find out that dream world is mithya.  Even the
utility of the world is relative utility and not absolute utility. 
Because this jagrath prabanja is useful only for the waker, viswa only during
jagradh avastha.  When jagrath is changed to swapna this jagrath prabanja is
utterly useless.

Verse 33

This is similar to verse 1 of the
second chapter.

Previously we said experience is not
the proof of reality.  We generally take experience as proof for
reality.  Here vedanta goes one step further.  Experience is the
proof for unreality.  Experience it the proof for mithya.  Whatever
experienced is mithya.  Because sathyam is never an object of
experience.  There is sathyam but it is not an object of experience. 
It is ever the experiencer the subject.  It never the seen, but ever the
seer.  Never the heard, but ever the hearer.  Experience is the proof
for mithya.  Swapna is the example.  It is experienced but it is
mithya.  Extending this, jagrath prabanja is experience but it is
mithya.  All the objects in dream are mithya because they are experienced
within limited time and space.

In verses 33 to 36, Gowdapadha says
dream is mithya; with that example, he says jagradh prabanja is also mithya
because they both are experienced.

Verse 34

Reminder of verse 2 of Second
chapter.

Dream objects are unreal because
they don’t have sufficient space for unreality; When you wake up in the middle
of a dream, you wake up where you went to sleep and not where you were in
dream.  By this we prove swapna is unreal.  Gowdapdha goes out of way
to prove dream unreal, when we already have the knowledge that dream as
unreal.  Many philosophers don’t agree that dreams are mental projection
but created by god specifically for you.  Vishishta dwaidam argue that
dream is also real.  The swapna prabanja is as real as jagradh.

Verse 35

Our own experinece will prove that
swapna is mithya.  Suppose in dream, you go to your friends house for an
important opinion.  After waking up, you want to know if the opinion is
real or not.  But friend will say they did not meet.  Whatever you
receive in dream, one doesn’t see after waking up.  All this prove swapna
is mithya.  Similarly jagradh is also mithya

In the five verses 24 to 28,
Gowdapadha Chariya is refuting Buddhist system of philosophy.  The four
systems are:

1. Sowthranthika madham:  This philosopher says that
   there is an external world different from the observer, the subject. 
   The external world is different from the observer and is real; this real
   distinct external world is proved by prathyaksha pramanam; therefore, this
   philosophy presented in a nutshell as bahya prathyaksha vadhinaha
2. Vaibashika madham:  Close to first one and they
   also say there is an external world; it exists separate from the observer;
   the external world is real; This distinct real external world is
   proved by inference or reasoning. bahyana anumana vadhinaha
3. Yogachara madham:  There is no independent real
   external world at all separate from the subject.  Just there is no
   real dream world, separate from the observer, individual.  This philosopher
   can be defined as Bahyartha abava vadhinaha.  External is only an
   appearance
4. Madhyamika madham:  This is similar to the third
   one; they also so there is no external at all; There is no subject
   observer also.  Sarvartha abava vadhinaha.  Soonya vadhinaha.

The first two systems are refuted by
the third system.  The first two systems claim there is a real external
world whereas the third system says there is no external world separate from
consciousness.  This is close to advaidam, in establishing mithyatvam of
the world, and therefore Gowdapadha chariya joined this system to refute the
first two system. The first two systems quote the experiences as proof for
the existence of an external world.  This was refuted in verses 26 to 29
by saying that experience does not prove reality.  The best example being
the dream.  In dream we have clear experiences with corresponding external
objects.  During the dream we are very sure of experiences and
corresponding objects, but when we wake up, we find out there is no external
objects at all separate from the dreamer.  Similarly, there is no external
world separate from the observer.  When we look at the pot, we see a pot
with weight etc.  But up on inquiry you find out there is no substance
called pot, the weight, attributes etc. belong to clay.  When you are
touching a pot, you really are touching clay.  Because of lack of inquiry
it appears as a substance.  Similarly, the whole world looks real. 
In the first stage, we dismiss the object and retain the word.  Once you
dismiss the object, the word should also be dismissed.  Because without an
object there is no validity for the word.  All the padham and padhartham
are resolved into the the ahdishtanam, the chaithanyam.  Similar to
akaram, ukaram, and makaram getting resolved in silence.

Then how will you explain the
erroneous perception.  If you are talking about error, there should be a
right perception.  If you want to talk about wrong perception, there
should be a correct perception.  If there is a correct perception, then
there must be an external object.  Without an external object, the concept
of error can’t be there at all.  There is no right perception at all
because there is no world for perception at all.

Verse 28

First, we will take the second
part.  Because of the reasons given in the previous three verses, the
external world is not at all born and therefore there is no such thing called
external world or an object of an external experience.  If it is unreal
world, why does it feel real?  Feeling is not a valid knowledge – you may
feel like a prime minister, but you are not.  In dream, you feel the dream
world is real, but it is not.

The first part of the sentence is
addressing yogachara.  Common features for both are that there is no
object separate from consciousness.  The difference is in arriving at the
nature of consciousness.  The yogachara philosopher says consciousness is
a fleeting, flickering, temporary, momentary entity.  Therefore, the
meaning of the word I, the subject is this temporary consciousness.  How
am I momentary entity?  I have been continually existing for my
life.  Yogachara will say that you are not one momentary consciousness but
many momentary consciousness.  Momentary consciousness are constantly
replaced by another momentary consciousness.  Because of the continuous
flow, it looks as though there is a permanent atma.  There is no permanent
atma, but only a flow of temporary series of atma.  He gives two examples:

1. Perennial river:  If you look at Ganges, there is
   no permanent Ganges because the river is in constant flow.  You feel
   that the Ganges you saw last year is same the Ganges this year.  The
   water of Ganges you touch this moment is not the same water for the next
   moment.  Ganges is only a flow of temporary flow of water.  Similarly,
   atma.  There is no permanent consciousness at all.
2. Flame:  You feel that there is a permanent flame,
   but on inquiry you will find that the same flame does not continually
   exists.  If the flame exists permanently, the oil will be there permanent,
   but oil is getting depleted.  The flame is constantly getting renewed
   by oil.  The flame of first moment and flame of the second moment are
   not the same; they are only similar.

Permanent river and flame are brama;
Yogachara bowdha says the permanent consciousness and chaithanyam are
brama.  Chaithanyam is born, gone, born, gone; there is a constant flow of
chaithanyam.  Gowdapadha refutes this philosophy in three words. 
Consciousness is not born at all, it is eternal; you can’t talk about temporary
consciousness.  Sankarachariya elaborately argues for this concept:

Sankarachariya asks the question, if
you are talking about the flow of fleeting consciousness and according to you
this is atma.  Consciousness number 1 appears and disappears; then
Consciousness 2 comes and disappears; then 3 comes and disappears and so
on.  Who is talking about this arrival and departure?  Is it the
first one or second one or third one?  Number 1 can never talk about the
arrival of number 2.   Because when number 1 is there number 2 is not
there.  Similarly, number 2 cannot talk about number 1 or number 3.  Therefore,
no single member can talk about the flow of chanika vigyanam, If somebody
has to talk about arrival and departure, there must be somebody other than the
flow who is there permanently.  So, the one who talks about, who is the
witness of, who is aware of arrival and departure must not arrive and
depart.  Yogchara committed the mistake of taking consciousness as the
thoughts of mind.  These arriving and departing thoughts are witnessed by
this nithya chaithanyam and this nithya chaithanyam does not come and go. 
Anithya vigyanam is the reality for yogachara.  Nithhya vigyanam is the
reality for us.  Thoughts arrive and depart, what is permanent is I the
witness principle.  They are seeing the footprints of flying birds in the
sky; they are seeing something that is not there; they are seeing the
origination of consciousness; this is a wrong perception.

The fourth madhyamika says that
there is nothing in creation (soonyavadha); this means you are not there which
means your philosophy is not there also.

Verse 29

For the sake of refutation, we
discussed all other systems.  From verse 29 to 46, Gowdapadha summarizes
the vedanta chidhantha; Consciousness alone is real and eternal; the world
obtained in jagradha avastha and swapna avastha are both mithya; I am not
matter but that eternal consciousness in which the mithya matter appears and
disappears.  Mithya includes body matter, mind matter and world
matter.  Consciousness does not produce a real world.  Other system
claim that eternal Brahman produce the external world.  that assume the
Brahman is subject to change.  To be a karanam or a cause it should be
subject to change – savikaram.  The truth is Brahman is changeless; therefore,
it is not a kranam at all and can’t produce any real creation.  that is
the very nature of Brahman.  Changelessness is the very nature of
Brahman.   This changeless nature of Brahman will ever be the
same.  World was not born; world is not born; world will not be born; What
was, what is and will be is all Brahman.  This nature of Brahman will
never change.  If you accept that a world is born out of Brahman, you will
never get out of samsara.  Acceptance of real world is invitation for
permanent bondage; therefore, you should not accept it if you want moksha.

Suppose I want to become chess
champion in the world, I only have to defeat the number one person. 
Similarly, among various ashtika dharsahanams, which accept creation, the most
prominent one is the Sankya philosophy and by refuting Sankya philosophy, then
we would have refuted all asthika philosophers.

From verse 24 to 28, Gowdapadha
refutes all nasthiaka dharshanam, mainly bowdha madham or Buddhism.

1. Buddhism has four branches. Sowthranthika madham: 
   This philosopher says that there is an external world different from the
   observer, the subject.  The external world is different from the
   observer and is real; this real distinct external world is proved by
   prathyaksha pramanam; therefore, this philosophy presented in a nutshell presented
   as bahya prathyaksha vadhinaha.
2. Vaibashika madham:  Close to first one and they
   also say there is an external world; it exists separate from the observer;
   the external world is real; This distinct real external world is proved by
   inference or reasoning.  This
   philosophy presented in a nutshell presented as bahyana anumana vadhinaha
3. Yogachara madham:  There is no independent real
   external world at all separate from the subject.  Just there is no
   real dream world, separate from the observer, individual.  This philosopher
   can be defined as Bahyartha abava vadhinaha.  External is only an
   appearance
4. Madhyamika madham:  This is similar to the third
   one; they also so there is no external at all; There is no subject
   observer also.  Sarvartha abava vadhinaha.  Soonya vadhinaha.

Of these four, the first two are
refuted by the third one.  The first two accept that there is a real
creation separate from the observer.  Third, yogachara, refutes both of
them and establishes that there is no observed world separate from the
observer.  Since he negates the matter, the external world, and
establishes that the observer consciousness alone is real, yogachara is very
close to advaidham.  With regard to negation of the world, advaidam and
yogachara are same and call the world as mithya.  Both also say
consciousness alone is Sathyam and agree on refuting external world. 
Refuting yogachara comes in verse 28.

24th verse presents the first two
branches of Buddhism and assert that there is an external world. 

First argument is if there is a
variety of experiences, then there must be variety of objects outside. 
Internal variety proves external plurality.  If external plurality is
dismissed, you will not be able to explain the plurality of experiences. 
To explain internal plurality, you must accept external world.  Every
experience must have a corresponding external object.

The second argument is that if there
is a pain feeling there must be an external object which causes the pain; same
thing is true for pleasure also.  This also proves an external
world.  So, one has to accept the existence of an external world accepted
by heenayana madham and all other systems of dwaida philosophies – philosophies
accepting real world.

In the next three verses heenayana
is refuted by yogachara; it should be taken as refutation by Gowdapadha.

Verse 25

Superficially looking, what heenyana
is saying is correct.  Because every cognition, every experience and every
knowledge must have a corresponding object.  But when I look into the
detail, I find the external object disappears.  For example, bangle, chain
and ring.  We have three different words, corresponding to that plurality
of thoughts.  With each word, the understanding of object is
different.  There is plurality of words, cognition and there must be
plurality of object.  There is a bangle, there is a chain and there is a
ring.  There are three different words; three different knowledge and
three different objects.  But those three objects, really speaking, are
non existent.  There is no substance called bangle or chain or ring. 
There is only one substance called gold.  There are no three
substance.  Bangle, chain and ring are three words for which there are no corresponding
substance at all.  There is only one word with a corresponding
substance:  gold.  What is the meaning of using different words when
there is no substance?  When you negate substance, bangle, chain and ring
and then you negate the corresponding words.  Padhams and padhartham are
both mithya. As you keep probing deepder and deeper, all the padhams and all the
padharthas will go away; only adhistanam will remain – the observer, the
consciousness.

If you inquire into reality, is
there a thing called bangle?  The so-called external substance will become
non substantial.  Bangle does not have any weight.  The weight
belongs only to gold.  Bangle is only a word.  Similarly, world is
only a word.  There is no such thing called world other than the observer.

Another example is dream experience.  For every dream experience, the dreamer sees
a corresponding an external object.  After waking up, we find that there
is no external object.  Experience disappears, experienced objects
disappear when you wake up.  Similarly, the corresponding worldly objects
also disappear.

Verse 26

There is no external matter at
all.  There is only consciousness which does not experience any external
objects at all.  Because there is no object for the consciousness to
contact.  The consciousness does not contact any real object because there
are no real objects.  Similar to not contacting an elephant in dream
because there is no elephant.  Can we say that consciousness contacts an
unreal object?  Consciousness does not contact with an unreal object also
because an unreal object does not exist separate from consciousness.  If
there is no unreal object separately, how can it contact?  Contact
requires a separate object.  For example, gold does not contact unreal
bangle because there is no unreal bangle separate from gold.  If gold has
to touch the bangle, there must be two things – gold and bangle.  Gold and
bangle are only two names for only one substance.  Then where is the
question of contacting each other.  Matter is not a substance; it is a
name given to consciousness.  Matter and consciousness are only two names
for one and the same absolute realty.  One who understood gold, calls it
gold; one who misses the gold, calls it bangle.  Two different people call
it by two different names; but the substance is only one.  From wise
person’s angle chaithanyam is called the truth; from an ignorant person it is called
world.  There is no object separate from consciousness; a real object is nonexistent;
an apparent object does not exist separate from consciousness.  There is
no mithya padharthaha separate from sathyam.  Only when there are two independent
things contact is possible.

Verse 27

Consciousness does not come in
contact with any object at all in all the three periods of time – in the past,
present or future.  You do not come in contact with the dream elephant
before dream, after dream or even during dream.  Because there is no
elephant even during dream because the elephant is only in your mind and it is
only a feeling and feelings are not facts.  The question is (this question
is not in the sloka, but the answer is in the sloka) if you don’t accept an
external world, how do you differentiate right knowledge and wrong
knowledge/error.  Normally, we do use the expression right knowledge or
wrong knowledge or error.  Rope knowledge is right knowledge; snake
knowledge is error.  How do you say which is right knowledge and which is
wrong knowledge? You differentiate what is right and what is wrong based on
outside object.  When the object and knowledge is in concurrence, then it
is right knowledge.  When the knowledge I have and the object do not
concur, then it is wrong knowledge or error.  When the perception and
object tally, it is right knowledge.  When they do not, it is wrong
knowledge.  That means you need an external object to tally.  But if
you don’t accept an external object at all, then you can’t explain an
error.  The question is how do you explain an error?  The yogachara
says I do not accept right knowledge or wrong knowledge; there is no right/wrong
division at all.  In dream rope perception or snake perception is
correct?  There is no question of rope perception being correct or snake
perception being correct because they both are projection; there is no snake
outside.  How can you talk about error when there is no object at all
outside?  There is no question of explaining the error.  Since there
is no external object and there is no question of explaining an error.

In these verses, Gowdapadha refutes
dvaida vadhi who is explaining the creation with the law of karma.  He
says karma and sareeram are cause and effect.  Gowdapadha took six
different options and showed that none of them will work.  So, with the
theory of karma, the creation can’t be explained.  In Vedanta we only
accept the law of karma temporarily to explain creation and once the person is
ready to accept higher level, we negate this theory.

Having refuted the six options,
Gowdpadha comes to another topic in 22nd verse where he pointed out, not only
the creation of the whole universe can’t be logically explained, but also any
single object’s creation can’t be explained.  Any ordinary object in the
world, even the creation of that object can’t be explained.  Taking the
pot, you can’t prove the origination of the pot.

1. Pot can’t be created out of pot
2. Pot can’t be created out of non-pot (any other object)
3. Pot can’t be created out of a mixture of pot and non-pot
4. An existent pot can’t originate
5. A nonexistent pot can’t originate
6. A mixture of existent and nonexistent pot can’t
   originate.

Whether you take the macro cosmic
creation or the micro cosmic creation, no creation can be proven.

In the 23rd verse, Gowdapadha
considers three more options:

1. From beginning-less karma, a body can’t be born because
   there is no beginning-less karma
2. From beginning-less body, a karma can’t be born because
   there is no beginning-less sareeram
3. Without a cause, body and karma can’t be born naturally
   born.  That which does not have aadhi does not have aadhi; meaning
   that which does not have karanam does not have origination.

Causeless origination is not
possible.  All the three options are ruled.  Ultimately the
conclusion is you can’t logically establish a creation.  Therefore, there
is no creation; there is no world.  There is only Brahman.  The real
meaning of advaidam is kariya karana vilakshanam.

Verse
24

In previous verses Gowdapadha
refuted the Sankya philosophers and dvaida philosophers; both of the philosophers
are asthika philosophers – accepting veda pramanam.  Until now Gowdapadha
refuted asthika philosophers; from now on he takes on nasthika philosophers;
these philosophers don’t believe veda pramanam; they accept experience.

1. Charuvaka Madham; materialistic
2. Jaina madhama; founded by Rishaba Devaha; later revived
   by Varthamana Mahaveera and others; jinaha meaning conquering sense
   organs. The one who follows this philosophy are called jains
3. A group of four madhams which are budhism or bowdha
   madham originated by Buddha.  Lord Ashoka asked the scholars to
   compile the Buddhist teaching

Here Gowdabdha takes up on refuting
Buddhism from verse 24 to verse 28.  The four branches are:

1. Sowthranthika madham:  This philosopher says that
   there is an external world different from the observer, the subject. 
   The external world is different from the observer and is real; this real
   distinct external world is proved by prathyaksha pramanam; therefore, this
   philosophy presented in a nutshell presented as bahya prathyaksha
   vadhinaha.
2. Vaibashika madham:  Close to first one and they
   also say there is an external world; it exists separate from the observer;
   the external world is real; This distinct real external world is proved by
   inference or reasoning.  This
   philosophy presented in a nutshell presented as bahyana anumana vadhinaha
3. Yogachara madham:  There is no independent real
   external world at all separate from the subject.  Just there is no
   real dream world, separate from the observer, individual.  This philosopher
   can be defined as Bahyartha abava vadhinaha.  External is only an
   appearance
4. Madhyamika madham:  This is similar to the third
   one; they also so there is no external at all; There is no subject
   observer also.  Sarvartha abava vadhinaha.  Soonya vadhinaha.

The first two are called hinayana
bowdha madham and the last two are called mahayana bowdha madham.

Of the four, the third on yogachara
madham is closer to vedanta.  He also says that there is a subject which
is real, the object is unreal.  We also say the subject, the observer is
also real.  This subject is the observer the consciousness principle or
vigyana swaroopam; we advantin also say that the subject, the observer is
consciousness principle.

Similarities between yogachara and vedantins: 
Both say world is mithya; observer alone is sathyam; sathyam the observer is
chaithanyam;

The difference is yogachara syas
that the consciousness is the temporary one having a fleeting existence and
this consciousness comes and goes as a flow.  For him the subject is not a
single eternal consciousness, the subject is a flow of temporary consciousness;
In advaidam there is no flow of consciousness, but it is one and eternal.

Gowdapdha will talk about the
similarities and thereafter he will discuss the differences.  First, he
joins yogachara madham to refute the first two; later on, he refutes yogachara
madham.

The first two, heenayana madham, are
refuted by yogachara madham. 24th verse is the presentation of heenayana madham
which consists of 1 and 2 or sowthranthika and vaibashika madham.

Every experience or knowledge we get,
should have a corresponding external object.  In the absence of external
object, you can’t have variety of experiences.  In dream, you don’t have
varieties of knowledge.  In waking you do have varieties of
knowledge.  Every knowledge, therefore, presupposes an external
world.  Every knowledge proves an existence of external object. 
Every cognition is associated with corresponding, relevant external object. 
Different knowledge is not possible without external objects.  If you
don’t accept plurality of external objects, you can’t explain plurality of our
experiences.

Second reasoning he gives, that we
have varieties of emotions like pleasure, pain etc.  If I should have
these emotions, every one of them must be caused by some external
objects.  If the body feels heat that heat experience must have been
caused by some external cause. Therefore, external world is there, it is
different from me and it is real. 

Beginning from 14 to 21st verse,
Gowdapdha is discussing theory of creation as per dwaidam.  They try to
explain creation with the theory of karma.  In Advaidam also accepts
theory of karma as a temporary steppingstone, but not ultimate truth. 
Once the mind is ready to accept the final teaching, then creation is
negated.  When the creation itself is negated, there is no reason to look
for a cause of creation.  If a philosopher accepts theory of karma as reality,
he is called dvaida philosopher.

Advaida philosopher’s inability to
accept any of the six theories, reflects fundamental fallacy in dvaida system
of philosophy.  Whenever people say I don’t believe in free will
everything is predetermined, we should ask predetermined by whom?  If it
is god predetermining different experiences for different people, then that god
will be a partial god.  If it is world, the inert world can’t predetermine
your experience.  You can’t say, it is random, in a world of fully of
orderliness, there is no scope for accident.  Accident is an incident, whose
cause we are not able to determine.  Predetermined by me with my own
karma.  Then the question comes, what preceded that karma.  There
will be no answer to this.  From this, we can conclude there is no
creation.

Verse 20

Here the dwaidins, may give a suggestion. 
We will try to explain creation with an example.  The creation of the
world has to be explained like the tree creation from the seed.  The
seed-tree example will not solve the problem, because the confusion regarding
world creation is also there with regard to the seed-tree example also. 
The six options elaborated will not work for seed and tree also.  To solve
one problem, you are giving another problem.  This example as confusing as
the original confusion regarding karma sareeram flow.

Verse 21

Whether you take karma-sareeram case
or the seed-tree case, we have the inability and ignorance to comprehend the
order – which one came first?  Tree or seed?  Karma or
Sareeram?  According to vedanta, the very concept cause effect is
ignorance.  You will get freedom only when you transcend the cause effect
idea.  If not, you will be worried about the past (effect) or the future
(cause).  Only when you negate cause effect theory, you will be
free.  Get out of the obsession with cause and effect.  This whole
concept is avidya and moksha is kariya karana vilakshanam.  If you have to
transcend cause and effect, you have to transcend time.  Whether today is
cause or effect is due to time.  Today is the cause of future and the effect
of past.  If you really believe in cause and effect, then what is born? 
If it is the origination, then tell me what is the cause of that origination? 
How is it you are not able to talk about cause which proceeds an effect which
originates according to you.

Verse 22

In this verse, Godwapadha concludes
arguments against dwaidam.  You can’t explain the origination of creation;
within creation, any simple object, you cannot talk about its
origination.  You cannot even prove the origination of a pot.  Here
Gowdapadha suggests six options:

1. If you talk about a birth of a pot, I will ask 3 questions:
   1. What is the cause of the pot?  Is the pot born out of pot?
   2. Do you say that a pot is born out of a cloth (something else)?
   3. Does a pot come out of a mixture of these two – pot and cloth?

Gowdapatha says all three options
are wrong and not possible.

1. A pot cannot be born out of itself
2. A pot cannot be born out of a cloth also.  If
   something cannot be born out of something else.
3. There is no such thing called pot and cloth.

Therefore, you can never prove the
creation of a pot.  How would you prove the creation of the universe?

Pot can be born out of clay. 
Why can’t you accept this origination of pot?  Sankarachariyar answers
this question.  You can never talk about origination of pot out of clay,
because really speaking there is no such thing called pot.  Previously
there was clay, there is clay now.  There is no substance called
pot.  Scientifically, matter cannot be created.  You only introduced the name pot.  Since
there is no substance called pot, there is only one substance called clay, now
there are two words for clay.  But there is only one substance.  When
there is only one substance, how can you talk about kariya karana sambandha? 
The word kariya karana sambandhi or cause effect relationship is delusion; confusion;
When the confusion or delusion is universal, it becomes normal.

No object can be born out of itself
or something else or a mixture of two.

When you talk about a birth of a pot
or desk or anything else, I will ask three question:

1. Is an existent thing born?
2. Is a nonexistent thing born?
3. Or a mixture born?

Gowdapdha says none of the three
will work.

1. An existent thing originates is a logical fallacy because it already exists.
2. A nonexistent thing originates is fallacy because the subject for this sentence is nonexistent thing, which means subject doesn’t exist.  Grammatically it doesn’t hold.
3. A mixture is impossible because opposite things can’t be mixed.  Sat and asat can’t be mixed.  It is like mixing light and darkness.

Based on these six options our conclusion
is there is no creation.

Law of conservation of matter: 
matter can never be created.  Then where is the question of
creation.  With this Gowdapadha concludes the creation based on the theory
of karma,

Verse 23

This verse also is dvaida vada
condemnation.  In this verse, he suggests some more argument and refutes
them.

When we say sareeram is born out of
karma, then the question is where the karma came from.  To avoid this
problem, the options are:

1. Can we take that the sareeram is born out of
   beginning-less karma? From anadhi karma sareeram is born
2. You can say that from anadhi sareeram, karma is born.
3. Both of them are simultaneously born.

Gowdapadha says all these three
options are also illogical.

1. From the beginning-less body, you cannot talk about
   creation of karma.  Karma can’t be born out of beginning less body.
2. Body cannot be born out beginning-less karma
3. Both can’t be together born by themselves without a
   cause.

Every cause is an effect. 
Beginning-less cause is not logical because it says beginning-less cause
produces effect.  For this there is no example or reasoning.  Every
cause itself is an effect.  This, we see in everyday life.  For example, father is the cause of his son,
but father is also effect of his parents.  So, the first two options are negated.

If you say that the sareeram and karma happened without a cause, then
after attaining moksha also you don’t have any guarantee of its
permanence.  With no cause, you may become a samsari.  Then why should I
struggle to attain moksha?

Gowdapadha refuted Sankya theory of
creation from verses 11 to 13.  From 14 to 23rd verse he is refuting the
theory of creation by dwaida philosophers who believe in a real creation. 
They explain the creation with the karma theory.  They explain that karma
is the cause for sareeram (punya pavam palam or dharma adharma palam); sareeram
is responsible for karma.  Gowdapadha suggest six possibilities and
refutes everyone them and concludes that there is no legitimate theory of
creation.

1. Karma as the original fundamental cause of
   creation.  This is not possible because there is no karma without a
   sareeram; Baghawan can’t give karma.
2. Sareeram is the original cause.  A body can’t
   exist without preceding karma.  Bagawan can’t determine the type of
   the body.  Body can’t accidentally
   come.
3. Both karma and sareeram originate simultaneously. 
   This is not possible because they can’t be mutually cause and effect; they
   will require some other cause.
4. Karma and sareeram being mutually cause and
   effect.  Karma produces sareeream; sareeram produces karma; this is
   not possible because cause exist previous to effect; effect has to be
   later.  Later one can never be cause of the previous one.
5. Karma sareeram chain.  Karma producing sareeram;
   sareeram producing karma; karma producing next sareeram; next sareeram
   prodcuing next karma.  This will not solve the problem because which
   one is the first in this link? Karma or sarreram.  Which one came
   first?
6. Karma sareeram chain is anadhi.  There is no first
   one in this beginningless chain.
   1. The adjective qualifies karma or sareeram or the
      chain?  Which one is beginning-less?  Karma can’t be
      beginningless because it starts with sareeram;  Sareeram can’t be
      beginningless because it always start with karma.  You can’t
      attribute the adjective to the chain because chain is a concept and not
      an object.  You can’t call the concept of chain as anadhi. 
      Other than the karma and sareeram, there is no substance.  Chain is not a substance.
   2. If there is a beginning less chain of karma sareeram,
      does that beginning less chain have an end or not?  If there is
      no beginning or end, then there will be no moksha.  Puranabi jananam
      puranabi maranam will endlessly continue and there will be no possibility
      of moksha.
   3. If there is no beginning but there is an end, then the
      end of the chain will be the beginning of moksha.  Whatever has a
      beginning will have an end.  Moksha will be subject to beginning and
      end; moksha will be temporary.

Therefore, the theory of karma
creation can’t be logically explained.  Therefore, there is no
creation.  There was Brahman, there is Brahman and there will be Brahman.

If you say there is no creation at all, then why are you talking about creation in scriptures – tatwa bodha and all the Upanishads?  We don’t accept creation at all, but a student in the beginning is not prepared to absorb the teaching of no creation.  This is temporary acceptance of creation.  Creation is not the real teaching but only a stepping stone.

14th verse considers options 1 and 2.  Karma or sareeram can’t be beginning-less cause.  For those dwaida philosophers, sareeram is born out of karma; karma is the cause of sareeram; they also say  sareeram is the cause of karma; but karma can’t be beginning less cause; sareeram also can’t be beginning less cause; both of them are born out of the other.

Verse 15

This verse considers fourth option
above.  Karma and sareeram are mutually produced.  If cause produces the effect, how can the
effect can produce the cause.  Effect is later; cause is former. 
Later can never produce former.  If karma and sareeram are mutually
produced, then there will be a possibility of a son producing the father.

Verse 16

This verse considers third option
above.  Karma and sareeram originate simultaneously, then they will never
have cause effect relationship.  In an animal when two horns are
simultaneously produced, one horn can’t be the cause of the other.  Similarly,
karma and sareeram can’t be born simultaneously.  They will require some
other cause for their birth.   If you say they were born one after
another, then which one is born first?

Verse 17

This is consolidation arguments for the first four options.  Anadhi karma can’t be cause of creation because any karma has to be produced by a sareeram.  You can’t say Bagawan gave a initial bundle of karma, because if Bagawan gives different bundles of karma, Bagawan will be partial.  If he gives uniform karma, all will be males or females only and there won’t be a next generation.  If he makes some male and some female, then Bagawan is partial.  Bagawan and world can’t give karma.  If Jiva has to produce karma, then sareeram is required.  Karma can’t  be begining-less karma.  If beginning-less karma is not logicaly proved, how can that beginning-less karma produce jiva or the universe?  It is not possible.

Verse 18

Fifth option of cause effect chain
is considered.  Body 1 produces Karma 1; karma 1 produces body 2; body 2
produces karma 2; and so on.  This does not answer the first member of the
chain.  Is it karma or sareeram?  Where does the chain begin?

Gowdapadha does not discuss the
sixth option here (it is discussed in verse 30).  Sankarachariya discusses the sixth
option.  The sixth option is chain is anadhi.

1. There is no question of parambara; it is only a concept;
    beginning less parabamaba does not
   exist.
2. If there is no end for prambara, then there is no
   moksha.
3. If there is an end for parambara, then that will be the
   beginning of moksha which will have an ending
4. If there is moksha with a beginning and an end, how do
   you explain moksha attained through knowledge?  If knowledge gives
   moksha, then moksha has a beginning.  But we do not say gyanam produces
   moksha; moksha is never produced.  Gyanam
   only reveals the fact that I am ever free.  Gyanam removes the
   misconception that I am ever bound.  Gyanam does not produce moksha.

Verse 19

If you say there is a creation, what is the cause?  If you give an answer, that karma or sareeram is karanam, you will not be able to talk about the order of cause and effect.