[Advaita-l] [advaitin] 'The Jiva is Mithya' - an article in English

[Sudhanshu Shekhar]

Namaste Dennis ji.

 I know you have previously ignored my request for you to explain your
> contentions in English but no harm in trying again! 😉
>

Please highlight the exact portion where further explanation is required.


> Could you explain (in English) how the image in the mirror (which I
> simplistically understand pratibimba to be metaphorically) has the same
> ontological status as the original (bimba in the metaphor)?
>

The mechanism is this -- in pratikarama vyavasthA, it is the
chakshu-indriya which extends from the body to the object. Now, in case a
mirror is placed in front of the eyes, the chakshu-indriya reflects and
objectifies the face just as it objectifies a pot placed in front of it.
That is the perception of pratibimba. It is the same as the perception of
bimba, just that the direction of chakshu-indriya is reflected backwards.

We need to appreciate the definition of pratibimba. I had given it in last
mail as per LC as उपाधिसम्बन्धेन कल्पितेन विशिष्टस्य बिम्बस्य एव
प्रतिबिम्बत्वम्. Please note that upAdhi-stha-tva (belonging-ness within
the upAdhi/mirror) is an Aropita-dharma. It is caused by the upAdhi. It has
nothing to do with pratibimba.Pratibimba is where the bimba is. It is not
inside the mirror. There is nothing inside the mirror, except the
mirror-material.

Sureshwaracharya says, which is quoted in Advaita SIddhi - दर्पणाभिहता
दृष्टिः परावृत्त्य स्वमाननम् । व्याप्नुवन्त्याभिमुख्येन व्यत्यस्तं
दर्शयेन्मुखम् ॥ (BBV 1.4.618).

So, since pratibimba is nothing but the bimba which is objectified by the
reflected-chakshu-indriya, the pratibimba and bimba have identical
ontological status.

To know more about the theory of pratibimba, you can read
https://bit.ly/4fTgNPG.

Regards.
Sudhanshu Shekhar.

Regards.
Sudhanshu Shekhar.