Advaita: What gives sentiency to a thing?

[Martin]

Traced formation of some celestial bodies. 3rd eye.

Sorry, I don't know what that means. Could you explain?

 

[Viswa]

But Maya is said to be an illusion, like the snake superimposed on the rope.

That's were Advaitic philosophy fail. Maya is a power of Brahman.

The rope and snake thing said is, people/disciple think that "He/she is body/prana/mind/intellect/ego" - and limit themselves as snake. They/we are not snake. But Brahman - the rope.

Rope itself makes look itself as snake, for experience, as Nirguna Brahman cannot experience without Bubbles/Antahkarana - without 5 sheaths - without three gunas - without Prakriti. There is no experience, if no Maya. Nirguna Brahman, has to manifest with three gunas (with power of Maya - it's own quality) to experience itself.

That's why they say "Without Sakthi, there is no Shiva. Without Shiva, there is no Sakthi". Without snake, there is no conscious of rope. Rope cannot experience Rope itself, and can experience only by Maya by making itself as Snake, so one day can understand the rope, as ME.

Maya is not "wrong view of things", but things or five sheaths present is itself because of Maya, the quality of Brahman. Maya means, it's not real, but without appearance - there is no experience, as no time no space no 5 sheaths. Even to experience bliss or Sat-Chit-Anada or Saguna Brahman, there have to be Maya.

For one enlightened, the bubble will not disappear. Still they see the Maya and experiences, but they are totally free from it, no Karma added, so no rebirth again, as they understood "I am not snake but rope, even while experiencing snake".

 

[Viswa]

Some actual quotes would be appreciated.

You may check here with the word 'mind and thoughts' and also the whole page,

BOOK3A-CH1-60

 

[ajay0]

I dont think mountains have consciousness. There is nothing in a mountain for consciousness to illuminate, and no mechanism for appearances in consciousness to arise. No mind, sense-organs, etc.

To put this in sciency language, it is only biological organisms which can exhibit awareness of their environment.

You might be interested in this science article that postulates that consciousness maybe present in all matter too...

What Is Consciousness? Is the Universe Conscious? - Theories

Humans relate to animals and can imagine, say, dogs and cats have some amount of consciousness because we see their facial expressions and how they appear to make decisions. But just because we don’t “relate to” rocks, the ocean, or the night sky, that isn’t the same as proving those things don’t have consciousness.

This is where a philosophical stance called panpsychism comes into play, writes All About Space’s David Crookes:

“This claims consciousness is inherent in even the tiniest pieces of matter — an idea that suggests the fundamental building blocks of reality have conscious experience. Crucially, it implies consciousness could be found throughout the universe.”

It’s also where physics enters the picture. Some scientists have posited that the thing we think of as consciousness is made of micro-scale quantum physics events and other “spooky actions at a distance,” somehow fluttering inside our brains and generating conscious thoughts.

 

[Martin]

That's were Advaitic philosophy fail. Maya is a power of Brahman.

The rope and snake thing said is, people/disciple think that "He/she is body/prana/mind/intellect/ego" - and limit themselves as snake. They/we are not snake. But Brahman - the rope.

Rope itself makes look itself as snake, for experience, as Nirguna Brahman cannot experience without Bubbles/Antahkarana - without 5 sheaths - without three gunas - without Prakriti. There is no experience, if no Maya. Nirguna Brahman, has to manifest with three gunas (with power of Maya - it's own quality) to experience itself.

That's why they say "Without Sakthi, there is no Shiva. Without Shiva, there is no Sakthi". Without snake, there is no conscious of rope. Rope cannot experience Rope itself, and can experience only by Maya by making itself as Snake, so one day can understand the rope, as ME.

Maya is not "wrong view of things", but things or five sheaths present is itself because of Maya, the quality of Brahman. Maya means, it's not real, but without appearance - there is no experience, as no time no space no 5 sheaths. Even to experience bliss or Sat-Chit-Anada or Saguna Brahman, there have to be Maya.

For one enlightened, the bubble will not disappear. Still they see the Maya and experiences, but they are totally free from it, no Karma added, so no rebirth again, as they understood "I am not snake but rope, even while experiencing snake".

An interesting analysis of Maya. But where exactly does Advaita philosophy "fail", in your view? Do you mean regarding Maya merely as illusion, rather than as a quality of Brahman?

 

[Martin]

You might be interested in this science article that postulates that consciousness maybe present in all matter too...

What Is Consciousness? Is the Universe Conscious? - Theories

Thanks, but apart from a speculative reference to panpsychism, I don't see much of relevance here.
I still think the sheaths (or some equivalent) are necessary.

 

[Viswa]

An interesting analysis of Maya. But where exactly does Advaita philosophy "fail", in your view? Do you mean regarding Maya merely as illusion, rather than as a quality of Brahman?

Where the Advaita philosophy fail or Advaitins fail is, they think Maya dissolves after Enlightenment, but it is not.

Even after enlightenment, Maya is still present. Every experience is bound to Maya - even the experience of Mukti is also bound to Maya, also the experiences after Moksha is bound to Maya. Maya is the quality of Brahman by which Prakriti is experienced by Purusha. After enlightenment, Maya is still present and Prakriti is still experienced by Purusha, but Purusha loses the accumulation of Karma.

Rope is understood, but even after Enlightenment - Snake is experienced, but without the identity of "Snake".

 

[shivsomashekhar]

... Now, if all is Consciousness according to Advaita...

What is your source for this? Please post the full verse.

 

[ameyAtmA]

Do the scriptures support this idea of Quarks and Black holes all connected within a "Cosmic mind"?

Bhagavad Geeta does.

Which chapter/verse are you referring to?

Namaste

You are essentially asking for 90% of the Bhagavad Geeta , but 9.6, 7.7, 14,27, 10,20, 15.16-18, ...

BG 9.6 Just as atmospheric air (vAyu) originates in the sky, moves around eveywhere, yet remains in the sky, similarly, all entities that originate in Me, are contained and live in Me.

=> there is nowhere for them to go - they start with Me and end with Me. I encompass them.

BG 9.4 Just as water pervades ice, I the formless , pervade this entire world. All entities are situated within Me on the basis (foundation) of My own resolve (sankalpa). However, in reality I am not entangled in them.

BG 9.5 paraphrased - Behold my Supreme mystic yogic divine oppulence : All these entities are generated by Me, I am their care-taker, nurturer and Lord (bhUta-bartRu) , but I am not in them -as in - I am apart from them, I transcend them.

BG 10.20 I am the Self (AtmA) , O conquerer of sleep (GuDAkesha - Arjuna), in the heart of all entities (bhUta). I am their beginning, middle and their end.

BG 10.42 Otherwise, why do you care [about these details] Arjun? I hold this entire existence by a mere fraction of Myself.

BG 13.13, 13,14 - all-pervading Brahman - object of knowledge (dneyaM), without sense organs.
That Brahman is the knower of all subjects or topics that can be grasped by senses but It is without any senses. IT is dettached, but shelters and forts all entites , it is nirguNa - without guNa , but also the ultimate consumer of guNa results. (nirguNa guNa bhokTru cha)

BG 13.15 IT pervades all moving and stationary entities inside out. All moving and stationary entities are nothing but IT (Brahman) , which is very far (for those who cannot perceive IT) at the same time it is the closest - very near (attainable by adhyAtma - inner search)



=> quarks to black holes to galaxies to intergalactic
=> quark to black-hole and in between? galaxies, inter-galactic ?

BG 13.16 IT is indivisible, but appears as if divided or distributed among the various entities - moving and stationary. IT is the One that brings forth all entities (PrabhavishNu), the maintainer and Lord (bhartA) of manifested entities (bhUta-bhartRu) and the annhiliator of manifestations (grAsishNu).

BG 13.17 IT is the light of all lights, the highest - transcending all, the Supreme object of knowledge (dneyaM) , highest knowledge itself (dnyAnaM) and established in the innermost heart of all entities (hRudi sarvasya vishThitaM).

=> To be established in the innermost heart of all entities, it has to first pervade the smallest particle. Which means the particle to the largest compound complex entities are within Brahman the Supreme Intelligence.

BG 7.6 Arjun, understand that this entire universe is made of 2 types of prakrUtis of mine -- the lower (aparA) and higher (parA) (as explained in previous shlokas). I am the original cause of their manifestation and dissolution.

Elsewhere -- in BG 7 kshetra kshetradnya yoga : Understanf that the kshetradnya (knower of the field) in all entities (fields), is but ME.

BG 14.17 I am the very foundation (substratum) of this vastness of existence,
-- of the immortal
-- of the imperishable
-- of the eternal Dharma
-- of the one-pointed peace and happiness.

BG 15.16 There are 2 types of entites in this entire world (existence).
(i) perishable
(ii) imperishable
The perishable are all the entities => quark to black hole and galaxies
The imperishable is supplied by the kUtastha akshara - mysterious eternal mULa prakRutiof mine (REF from chapter 7: My parA prakrUti that makes living beings move - jeevas)

BG 15.17 However, the Highest Being (uttam purush) is very different (apart) from all these and pervades them in and out, holds, shelters, sustains them as their Ishwara - controller, care-taker God.

BG 15.18 Because I am a class apart from both the perishable and imperishable aspects of this world, I am known as the Purushottam - the Supreme Being.

BG 7.7 He Dhananjaya, there is no higher cause or reason beyond Me for this world. This entire world is brought forth by Me as beads of thread strung on the thread. (Beads made of the very thread) - sutre eva manigana

... more later...

 

[The Crimson Universe]

That's were Advaitic philosophy fail. Maya is a power of Brahman.

The rope and snake thing said is, people/disciple think that "He/she is body/prana/mind/intellect/ego" - and limit themselves as snake. They/we are not snake. But Brahman - the rope.

Rope itself makes look itself as snake, for experience, as Nirguna Brahman cannot experience without Bubbles/Antahkarana - without 5 sheaths - without three gunas - without Prakriti. There is no experience, if no Maya. Nirguna Brahman, has to manifest with three gunas (with power of Maya - it's own quality) to experience itself.

That's why they say "Without Sakthi, there is no Shiva. Without Shiva, there is no Sakthi". Without snake, there is no conscious of rope. Rope cannot experience Rope itself, and can experience only by Maya by making itself as Snake, so one day can understand the rope, as ME.

Maya is not "wrong view of things", but things or five sheaths present is itself because of Maya, the quality of Brahman. Maya means, it's not real, but without appearance - there is no experience, as no time no space no 5 sheaths. Even to experience bliss or Sat-Chit-Anada or Saguna Brahman, there have to be Maya.

For one enlightened, the bubble will not disappear. Still they see the Maya and experiences, but they are totally free from it, no Karma added, so no rebirth again, as they understood "I am not snake but rope, even while experiencing snake".

So it seems from your comment that Brahman's shakti Maya, is simply
a power of manifestation,
(a power that projects false images)?
Am i right?

When Brahman with the help of its maya, projects false images upon ITSELF , then IT appears as this universe of names & forms.
... Advaita too speaks of maya's vikshepa (projecting) feature. That maya projects false images.

Now, where does the ignorance, that all advaitins talk about, comes from?

Is ignorance the result >> of the projection of all false images?

In other words, is this ignorance in-built in Brahman?

 

[Viswa]

So it seems from your comment that Brahman's shakti Maya, is simply
a power of manifestation,
(a power that projects false images)?
Am i right?

When Brahman with the help of its maya, projects false images upon ITSELF , then IT appears as this universe of names & forms.
... Advaita too speaks of maya's vikshepa (projecting) feature. That maya projects false images.

Now, where does the ignorance, that all advaitins talk about, comes from?

Is ignorance the result >> of the projection of all false images?

In other words, is this ignorance in-built in Brahman?

Good Point Greg. Yeah. Maya is simply power of Manifestation, without which Purusha cannot combine with Prakriti, so experience becomes impossible.

Maya don't projects "false Images", but Maya projects "Images", where the Maya itself, quality of Brahman. It creates images because only by Images - experience happens.

Experience cannot happen outside Bubble, but only in it. Only in the form of "snake" - experience happens, but not in Rope. But, Ignorance of "I am Snake" have to be got rid off, and understand myself as Rope.

First, after Nirguna Brahman with it's Maya, created the Bubble/Pond - antahkarana (Deep/Inner Cause), there first came the "Conscious of I AM". It's totally Blissful. It is EGO.

But, it is said that, in the previous Universe before Mahapralaya - Jivaatmas are dead with unfulfilled desires. So, Brahma/Hiranyagarbha is created/manifested, and starts to create by viewing through intellect, so that the previous desires and left over Karmas can start to reap it's seed.

After Bliss or Ego, Intellect came and known about Universe and Karma and everything - as an unmanifested form, and starts to manifest it, by mind i.e. thoughts. Prana got manifested for energy to create things, and so matter then came upon.

So, where come Ignorance here in start of creation? It's not created but present always as Unfulfilled desires in the time of death of all living beings. Until one single living stops his/her/it's need at the time of death - this Universe will be created all time long, but it happens no way. It will be present always, as it is the One becomes Many for Many can fulfill it's wishes, but not all Many becomes One.

But, in some other religions, it is said as "One fallen away from GOD - because of thought and so original sin happened and earth created from thought and etc.,". Because of a different need other than Bliss/God, Ignorance happens, as one is free to desire whatever one needs.
In different view, it is said, it is the GOD/Bliss itself wants to experience a different, so created worlds/etc.,

But, those above reasons of other religions got destroyed in notion of "God has no desires", as how come the fallen before being fallen, would have come into existence!!...

The desire/needs of 'Jiva-atma/many' at the time of death in previous incarnation in previous universe, is the cause of creation of this Universe, after the maha-pralaya of previous Universe. Even, in this universe itself, after every pralaya, this desires unfulfilled - impressions, becomes cause for next new worlds/cycle.

Even for Individual, the same. That's why - in many religions, it is being said that, at the time of death , not asked one to dwell in needs/desires, but make him/her/it to hear/say about God or God's name, so that moksha shall be attained easily without any practice/Knowledge/devotion.

So, finally, what I try to say is, if we try to find the root of Ignorance - it's not at all possible and goes on backward endlessly - can't find the actual cause, as it is the bridge between "GOD and Jiva-atmas" or "Vidya and Avidya" or "Bliss and Pleasure".

Like Buddha said, Going backwards is waste of Time.

To step out from Ignorance by "I am not this not that na iti na iti" now, without trying to find how come Ignorance came, is Vidya/Knowledge/Jnana.

 

[ameyAtmA]

For cells to organize into tissues and then organs and so forth, the cells must have a mind or intelligence to perform those actions.

Your post 24 is not very clear. Could you say what you wanted to say in simple English?

Not their mind but they organize by my mind.

BG 7 kshetra kshetradnya yog

This is where shAstra and science can feed back into each other.
The cells are engineered, programmed with the DNA. So they are a much complex structure with information embedded in them.

The part about "organized by My mind" is where shAstra comes in - most directly the BG chapter 7 kshetra-kshetradnya yoga.

kshetra = field , in this context body of an organism , living being.
kshetradnya [jna] = knower of the kshetra.
KRshNa says understand the kshetradnya of each kshetra to be Me.

Also, pitAhamasya jagato mata dhata pitamah rk sama yajur omkarah

I am the father, mother, grandfather of this world, creator, sustainer, I am the original cosmic sound Omkar, I am the Rg SAma yajur veda ...

Gatir bhartA prabhu sakshi niwasah sharanam surhud
Prabhava pralaya shtanam nidhanam
Beejam avyayam.

I am the goal, the Lord, Witness, dwelling place, shelter, best friend,
the One who brings things forth - Prabhava
the One who destroys that which is brought forth

-- this is repeated so loud all over, that it cannot be missed.
If Brahman brings forth entities as Prabhava and PrabhavishNu, bhUta-bhartRu, then that is the
Super Intelligence that organizes cells and tissues and organs is it not?

BramhA anim

ates the proton
VishNu animates neutron
Shiva animates electron
Devi animates force interatomic, in the drama. Just a thought

Cells do have autonomy at a microscopic level compared to just atoms or inorganic molecules, but that goes as far as what they are already pre-programmed to do.
You can say they have a code embedded in them - when should WBC increase, when to multiply, when to release enzymes , response to stimulus...

Ultimately the sUtradhAr is Brahman, the Intelligent One. MahALakshmi, YogamAyA are all the same One.

Organisms are generated based on rules of karma-vAsanA that bend with machine learning bhakti and krupA , grace.

Why is uranium radioactive but hydrogen isn't?

--
** Beyond this , those who are interested in the details of sarga (primary creation) and visarga (secondary creation) explained in the BhAgavat mahApurAN (Shrimad BhAgavatam) , please stay tuned for a new thread.
How elements are setup, etc. This is theology more than science, but a lot of it is scientific and I believe has helped scientists.
Moreover, the OP wants to know that -- and advaita vedAnta will only say "it is mAyA don't ask and do not be interested."
BhAgvat is advaita-oriented according to me although full of bhakti, and speaks on this topic in Canto 2 (khanda 2 of 12).


EDIT: I have decided I am not going to create a new Shrimad BhAgavatam thread here.
For years I have been feeling like this pavitra Hinduism DIR and all DhArmic DIRs within RF are like the Lotus in mud - rather, Lotus in a place where occasional hell shows up.
Let me explain:
95% of RF content is OK, people are genuinely posting and discussing for a purpose.
I also embrace other religions - that is also not the issue.
However, I think RF mods allow some 5% filth to infiltrate and look the other way when a certain member posts filthy obnoxious material that crosses moral boundaries. with full intention to specifically demoralize and drive people away when their ego feels like. This person and maybe some others drag the moral standards on RF too low.

You might say - how does it matter? We are in our DIR and this person is irrelevant, cannot come to our DIR,
but we are still on the same Website and platform. Walking in filth. Enough is enough.

Those who really want to discuss Hindiusm should be on Hindu only forums or at least Dharmic forums where such nonsense will not be allowed.

 

[Aupmanyav]

The cells are engineered, programmed with the DNA. So they are a much complex structure with information embedded in them.

-- and advaita vedAnta will only say "it is mAyA don't ask and do not be interested."
BhAgvat is advaita-oriented according to me although full of bhakti, and speaks on this topic in Canto 2 (khanda 2 of 12).

Engineered by evolution. Is that what you are saying? And DNA is complex, agree with you. About 3 billion bases (complex molecular structures)

Why would Advaita say so? It will explain what is known and what is not known. I understand, Your way is 'bhakti', mine is 'jnana'. I would read both - BhagawadPurana (Canto 2) as well as the science book.

 

[The Crimson Universe]

First, after Nirguna Brahman with it's Maya, created the Bubble/Pond - antahkarana (Deep/Inner Cause), there first came the "Conscious of I AM". It's totally Blissful. It is EGO.

Could you please explain what you mean by this Bubble/Pond? Is it the empty shell of the universe or something else.

And this EGO that comes after the bubble, is it the cosmic ego? Is there a sanskrit name for it?

It would be good to know the source/text from where you've extracted this information. :=)

 

[ameyAtmA]

Engineered by evolution. Is that what you are saying?

No I am not saying that. Brahman need not micromanage everything so it can certainly set processes in motion, but that does not mean 100% evolution. I am alluding to Brahman being the sUtradhAr.

Your way is 'bhakti', mine is 'jnana'. I would read both - BhagawadPurana (Canto 2) as well as the science book.

My way is bhakti + jnAna + jnAnottar bhakti (dnyAnottar bhakti - bhakti after jnAna)
and if/when curious enough I read science also.
If the OP wanted they could have just read the science book, but they are asking very interesting questions - that are not science questions -- they are Brahman-jidnyAsA , the missing link of science.

 

[Aupmanyav]

I am alluding to Brahman being the sUtradhAr.

My way is bhakti + jnAna + jnAnottar bhakti (dnyAnottar bhakti - bhakti after jnAna)
and if/when curious enough I read science also.
If the OP wanted they could have just read the science book, but they are asking very interesting questions - that are not science questions -- they are Brahman-jidnyAsA , the missing link of science.

You are turning Brahman into a God, a being, involved, having desires to put the world in the way of his liking, having friends and enemies.
If Brahman is 'sūtradhāra', then it becomes a partner to wars, rapes and murders. That is not my Brahman.
OP has asked a simple question of science. Seems to me that you read more of scriptures than science. That is where you got lost. When bhakti dominates over jnana, it becomes 'Andha-Bhakti'.

 

[Viswa]

Could you please explain what you mean by this Bubble/Pond? Is it the empty shell of the universe or something else.

And this EGO that comes after the bubble, is it the cosmic ego? Is there a sanskrit name for it?

It would be good to know the source/text from where you've extracted this information. :=)

Hi Greg.

Sorry, there is no text saying about all, as a whole.

It is derived from BG and Upanishads and Brahma Sutras and Puranas and Samkhya and Yoga Vasishta.

Chapter 7, Verse 4 – Bhagavad Gita, The Song of God – Swami Mukundananda

Here, you shall see about 'Prakriti'. It is said in reverse manner. Then, take up the five koshas. Beyond Intellect is the Ego, Ego is called as Ahamkar. In five koshas, beyond Vijnanamaya kosha is Anandamaya kosha.
Ego of "I ness" is called as Sattva Ahamkar in Samkhya, the Bliss, the Sat-chit-Ananda.


So, to say, this Ego, this Ahankar - the "I or I AM ness", is the Bliss or Anandamaya, the first thing emerged from Mahat. Now, I jump to Sankhya.

Mahat, is the form or place through which Avyakta becomes Vyakta. That is Unmanifested Prakriti as Pradhana, becomes Manifested Prakriti. This is what I say as "AntahKarana", where Ego-Intellect-Mind-Prana-Body plays. Mahat is also called a "Seed" born out of Purusha and Avyakta, and then comes the 'conscious of I AM'.

Yogis call this Mahat or Antahkarana as "Chit" or A water Bubble.

If we make divisions, we may go on like Sankhya and other did. but, as per Upanishads, just 5 Koshas - where the Anandamaya Kosha's emergence is the mystery cannot be known even by Ishwara. The mystery is "How and Why" of "karana sarira" or "Causal Body".

For an infinite ocean, there is no place to experience it, as no space and time. So, to create space and individuality (space in physical, space in psych, space even in spiritual bliss for experience), Maya - as the power of Brahman, creates the Mahat or Antahkarana, a space for Jada and Jiva and everything as duality (Purusha and Prakriti - three gunas) can be experienced.

All this is my own experience, as I-ness in bliss, and interpretation from Mandukya verse 6 to BG to Yoga vasishta to Samkhya and etc.,

 

[Martin]

Hi Greg.

Sorry, there is no text saying about all, as a whole.

It is derived from BG and Upanishads and Brahma Sutras and Puranas and Samkhya and Yoga Vasishta.

Chapter 7, Verse 4 – Bhagavad Gita, The Song of God – Swami Mukundananda

Here, you shall see about 'Prakriti'. It is said in reverse manner. Then, take up the five koshas. Beyond Intellect is the Ego, Ego is called as Ahamkar. In five koshas, beyond Vijnanamaya kosha is Anandamaya kosha.
Ego of "I ness" is called as Sattva Ahamkar in Samkhya, the Bliss, the Sat-chit-Ananda.


So, to say, this Ego, this Ahankar - the "I or I AM ness", is the Bliss or Anandamaya, the first thing emerged from Mahat. Now, I jump to Sankhya.

Mahat, is the form or place through which Avyakta becomes Vyakta. That is Unmanifested Prakriti as Pradhana, becomes Manifested Prakriti. This is what I say as "AntahKarana", where Ego-Intellect-Mind-Prana-Body plays. Mahat is also called a "Seed" born out of Purusha and Avyakta, and then comes the 'conscious of I AM'.

Yogis call this Mahat or Antahkarana as "Chit" or A water Bubble.

If we make divisions, we may go on like Sankhya and other did. but, as per Upanishads, just 5 Koshas - where the Anandamaya Kosha's emergence is the mystery cannot be known even by Ishwara. The mystery is "How and Why" of "karana sarira" or "Causal Body".

For an infinite ocean, there is no place to experience it, as no space and time. So, to create space and individuality (space in physical, space in psych, space even in spiritual bliss for experience), Maya - as the power of Brahman, creates the Mahat or Antahkarana, a space for Jada and Jiva and everything as duality (Purusha and Prakriti - three gunas) can be experienced.

All this is my own experience, as I-ness in bliss, and interpretation from Mandukya verse 6 to BG to Yoga vasishta to Samkhya and etc.,

I'm curious about where your interpretation sits philosophically. There seem to be elements of Samkhya, but is it basically Dvaita, rather than Advaita?

 

[Viswa]

I'm curious about where your interpretation sits philosophically. There seem to be elements of Samkhya, but is it basically Dvaita, rather than Advaita?

Hey Martin.

IMHO, in Hinduism or Vedic Religion, the texts written by Vyasa and Vedas and Upanishads - everything is in Dvaita form and elements.

Even in Upanishads, it is said "You are Brahman", but it goes on explaining 5 sheaths, intellect - mind - etc.,

Advaita is the 'self' and the Dvaita is "Appearances". All texts in Upanishads,etc., speaks only about appearances and not "Nirguna Brahman" itself. Because it is Achinthyam Avyavaharyam ... - not speakable, not thinkable, etc., (Refer Mandukya Verse 7 and Brihadaranyaka Upanishad). Speaking of it itself is an appearance in words so "na iti".

It's beyond speech, so no texts point it directly and only about duality and it's negation. And so, Advaita not mean "ONE", instead of it, "Not-two".

It is You. That is the self to be known, which is beyond experiences, and thinking about "why or How about Creation/Maya" - is all Avidya, but know the Avidya so that for fully understanding it and negating it all for once, and remain at "Shantam Shivam".

If we try to speak about Advaita, then self means "Whatever we know/speak/think/experience/assume/believe - is not that" (Na iti Na iti - Not even Sat-chit-Ananda, not even Oneness, not even Consciousness, Not even Witness-Consciousness, Not Existence, Not Non-existence, Not Bondaged, Not Liberated, Not Pure, Not Impure, Not Good, Not Bad, Not Middle, Not Knowledge, Not Ignorance, Not Father, Not God, Not Cause, Not Effect, Not Born, Not Dead, Not Light, Not Darkness, Not this, Not this), and so thought of try to know it - subsides, and gradually one goes beyond Experiences, Peace. That's You. That's all. Advaita text is over. All other is Dvaita.

 

[Martin]

Good Point Greg. Yeah. Maya is simply power of Manifestation, without which Purusha cannot combine with Prakriti, so experience becomes impossible.

Maya don't projects "false Images", but Maya projects "Images", where the Maya itself, quality of Brahman. It creates images because only by Images - experience happens.

Experience cannot happen outside Bubble, but only in it. Only in the form of "snake" - experience happens, but not in Rope. But, Ignorance of "I am Snake" have to be got rid off, and understand myself as Rope.

First, after Nirguna Brahman with it's Maya, created the Bubble/Pond - antahkarana (Deep/Inner Cause), there first came the "Conscious of I AM". It's totally Blissful. It is EGO.

But, it is said that, in the previous Universe before Mahapralaya - Jivaatmas are dead with unfulfilled desires. So, Brahma/Hiranyagarbha is created/manifested, and starts to create by viewing through intellect, so that the previous desires and left over Karmas can start to reap it's seed.

After Bliss or Ego, Intellect came and known about Universe and Karma and everything - as an unmanifested form, and starts to manifest it, by mind i.e. thoughts. Prana got manifested for energy to create things, and so matter then came upon.

So, where come Ignorance here in start of creation? It's not created but present always as Unfulfilled desires in the time of death of all living beings. Until one single living stops his/her/it's need at the time of death - this Universe will be created all time long, but it happens no way. It will be present always, as it is the One becomes Many for Many can fulfill it's wishes, but not all Many becomes One.

But, in some other religions, it is said as "One fallen away from GOD - because of thought and so original sin happened and earth created from thought and etc.,". Because of a different need other than Bliss/God, Ignorance happens, as one is free to desire whatever one needs.
In different view, it is said, it is the GOD/Bliss itself wants to experience a different, so created worlds/etc.,

But, those above reasons of other religions got destroyed in notion of "God has no desires", as how come the fallen before being fallen, would have come into existence!!...

The desire/needs of 'Jiva-atma/many' at the time of death in previous incarnation in previous universe, is the cause of creation of this Universe, after the maha-pralaya of previous Universe. Even, in this universe itself, after every pralaya, this desires unfulfilled - impressions, becomes cause for next new worlds/cycle.

Even for Individual, the same. That's why - in many religions, it is being said that, at the time of death , not asked one to dwell in needs/desires, but make him/her/it to hear/say about God or God's name, so that moksha shall be attained easily without any practice/Knowledge/devotion.

So, finally, what I try to say is, if we try to find the root of Ignorance - it's not at all possible and goes on backward endlessly - can't find the actual cause, as it is the bridge between "GOD and Jiva-atmas" or "Vidya and Avidya" or "Bliss and Pleasure".

Like Buddha said, Going backwards is waste of Time.

To step out from Ignorance by "I am not this not that na iti na iti" now, without trying to find how come Ignorance came, is Vidya/Knowledge/Jnana.

Samkhya was the first Hindu school I explored, and it made a lot of sense to me. However, given it's a sort of atheist dualism, I don't think it sits well with Advaita conceptions of Brahman and Maya.