ADVAITA SĀṂKHYA
Holographic Principles

Recurring Strings

The Fractal Universe

Fractals are geometrical objects in which the parts reflect the whole.  They’re produced by recursion.  In string theory (guṇavāda) ¹, the seventy principles (saptatitattva) similarly reflect the ten strings (daśaguṇa).  Each of the seven strings (saptaguṇa) being the recursive origin (punarāvartin mūla) of a tenfold principle (daśatattva). ²  Therefore, the universe (jagat) is like a multidimensional fractal.

Pattern of Recursion

Many of the seventy principles are neither named nor discussed.  This is because they are repetitions of the strings (guṇas).  Hence, the pattern of recursion is emphasized instead.  The pattern being 0 → 3 → 7 → repeat.  This is summarized by the Hermetic axiom, “As above, so below.” ³  The strings being the “above” and the principles being the “below.”  So, one who knows the strings, knows the principles.

The Unmanifest Principles

Seven Triads

The three strings (triguṇa) ⁴ don’t have principles (tattvas).  So, the rows in the chart above represent the seven strings (saptaguṇa) ⁵.  The fourth being existence (sat), and the tenth being physics (tamas).  Each tenfold principle (daśatattva) contains a threefold principle (tritattva) ⁶.  Each of which consists of a spiritual sheath (pauruṣa kośa) and a material body (prākṛta śarīra) united (saṃyukta) by an oversoul union (aiśvara yoga). ⁷  This yields twenty-one unmanifest principles (avyakta tattvas).

The Seven Sheaths

Advaita Sāṃkhya considers the five classical sheaths (pañcakośa) ⁸ to be sevenfold.  These seven sheaths (saptakośa) are spiritual (pauruṣa), as opposed to the material bodies (prākṛta śarīras).

1. Sanmayakośa ⁹ is the existence sheath.
2. Ānandamayakośa ¹⁰ is the classical bliss sheath.
3. Cinmayakośa ¹¹ is the consciousness sheath.
4. Vijñānamayakośa ¹² is the classical intellectual sheath.  It’s synonymous with “buddhi” and “mahat.”
5. Manomayakośa ¹³ is the classical mental sheath.
6. Kāmamayakośa ¹⁴ is the love sheath.  It’s pure desire, distinct from attachment (rāga).
7. Pranamayakośa ¹⁵ is the classical energy sheath.

The Seven Bodies

Advaita Sāṃkhya similarly considers the three classical bodies (śarīra traya) ¹⁶ to be sevenfold.  These seven bodies (śarīra saptaka) are material (prākṛta), as opposed to the spiritual sheaths (pauruṣa kośa). 

1. Kāraṇaśarīra ⁹ is the classical causal body.
2. Antaḥśarīra ¹⁰ is the inner body.  It’s the inner organ (antaḥkaraṇa), which is the bridge to the causal body (kāraṇaśarīra). 
3. Cittaśarīra ¹¹ is the conscious body.  In Dvaita Sāṃkhya, the term “citta” is the composite of intellect, ego, and mind (buddhi, ahaṃkāra, and manas). ¹⁷  But in Advaita Sāṃkhya, it’s the storehouse of conscious impressions (cetana saṃskāras).
4. Ahaṃśarīra ¹² is the ego body.  It’s synonymous with “ahaṃkāra,” not to be confused with egoism (asmitāa).
5. Nāmaśarīra ¹³ is the name body.  It’s the storehouse of subconscious impressions (jaḍa sāskāras).
6. Liṅgaśarīra ¹⁴ is the classical subtle body.
7. Sthūlaśarīra ¹⁵ is the classical gross body.

The Seven Yogas

Finally, Advaita Sāṃkhya also considers the three classical yogas (yoga traya) ¹⁸ to be sevenfold.  Each of these seven yogas (yoga saptaka) is the union (saṃyoga) of a spiritual sheath (pauruṣa kośa) with its correpsonding material body (prākṛta śarīra).  They aren’t discrete practices (sādhanas), though.  Rather, they are principles (tattvas) to be fulfilled through practice (sādhya through sādhana). ¹⁹  Hence, they can be approached uniquely by different individuals, religions, or cultures.

1. Absorption yoga (samādhiyoga) ⁹ is the union of the existence sheath and the causal body.
2. Meditation yoga (dhyānayoga) ¹⁰ is the union of the bliss sheath and the inner body.
3. Concentration yoga (dhāraṇāyoga) ¹¹ is the union of the consciousness sheath and the conscious body.
4. Intellectual yoga (buddhiyoga) ¹² is the union of the intellectual sheath and the ego body.
5. Knowledge yoga (jñānayoga) ¹³ is the union of the mental sheath and the name body.  This is the knowledge that belongs to the mind.
6. Devotion yoga (bhaktiyoga) ¹⁴ is the union of the love sheath and the subtle body.
7. Action yoga (karmayoga) ¹⁵ is the union of the energy sheath and the gross body.

The Manifest Principles

Seven Heptads

The chart above is the continuation of the previous chart.  In addition to a threefold principle (tritattva), each tenfold principle (daśatattva) also contains a sevenfold principle (saptatattva). ⁶  This yields forty-nine manifest principles (vyakta tattva).  Of these heptads, only the senses ²¹, subtle elements ²², and gross elements ²³ (indriyas, tanmātras, and mahābhūtas) are named.

The Mental Senses

The senses belong to the eighth string, mind (sattva). ²⁰  Each sense is a unified pair consisting of a knowledge sense (jñānendriya) and an action sense (karmendriya).  Advaita Sāṃkhya considers them sevenfold, with the first two being unnamed.

1. unnamed/unnamed
2. unnamed/unnamed
3. Śrotra/vāc is hearing/speaking.
4. Cakṣus/pāda is seeing/moving.
5. Tvac/pāṇi is feeling/grasping.
6. Jihvā/upastha is tasting/reproducing.
7. Ghrāṇa/pāyu is smelling/eliminating.

The Emotional Subtle Elements

The subtle elements belong to the ninth string, emotion (rajas). ²¹  They are the subtle objects of the senses.  Advaita Sāṃkhya considers them sevenfold, with the first two being unnamed.

1. unnamed
2. unnamed
3. Śabda is sound.
4. Rūpa is appearance, which includes shape and color.
5. Sparśa is feel.
6. Rasa is flavor.
7. Gandha is odor.

The Physical Gross Elements

The gross elements belong to the tenth string, physics (tamas). ²²  They are the gross objects of the senses.  Advaita Sāṃkhya considers them sevenfold, with the first two being unnamed.

1. unnamed
2. unnamed
3. Ākāśa is ether.
4. Agni is fire.
5. Vāyu is air.
6. Jala is water.
7. Pṛthvī is earth.

Symmetry

An interesting feature of fractals is their self-similarity, or expanding symmetry.  In Advaita Sāṃkhya, the basis of symmetry (pramā of samamiti) is numerical frequency of vibration (sāṃkhya āvṛtti of spanda). ²³  These frequencies are represented by the numbers one through ten.  Thus, different things may be inwardly related to each other without having the same outward appearance.  This allows for the diversity of the universe (jagat) while maintaining its underlying unity.

Resonance

Symmetry (samamiti) produces resonance (anunāda), which allows information exchange (saṃvedana). ²⁴  This means that numerically similar principles (tattvas) resonate with each other despite being in different states (avasthās).  This is how the senses (indriyas) ²⁰ interact with the subtle elements (tanmātras) ²¹ and gross elements (mahābhūtas) ²².  Resonance can be thought of in terms of waves.  For instance, hearing/speech (śrotra/vāc), sound (śabda), and ether (ākāśa) are all on similar wavelengths.

References

1. Vyās, S. K. Advaita Sāṃkhya Sūtras 4.1.
2. Vyās, S. K. Advaita Sāṃkhya Sūtras 5.1.
3. Trismegistus, H. The Emerald Tablet.
4. Vyās, S. K. Advaita Sāṃkhya Sūtras 4.10.
5. Vyās, S. K. Advaita Sāṃkhya Sūtras 4.12.
6. Vyās, S. K. Advaita Sāṃkhya Sūtras 5.2.
7. Vyās, S. K. Advaita Sāṃkhya Sūtras 5.3.
8. Ādi Śaṅkarācārya. Tattva Bodha 3.
9. Vyās, S. K. Advaita Sāṃkhya Sūtras 5.4.
10. Vyās, S. K. Advaita Sāṃkhya Sūtras 5.5.
11. Vyās, S. K. Advaita Sāṃkhya Sūtras 5.6.
12. Vyās, S. K. Advaita Sāṃkhya Sūtras 5.7.
13. Vyās, S. K. Advaita Sāṃkhya Sūtras 5.8.
14. Vyās, S. K. Advaita Sāṃkhya Sūtras 5.9.
15. Vyās, S. K. Advaita Sāṃkhya Sūtras 5.10.
16. Ādi Śaṅkarācārya. Tattva Bodha 2.1.
17. Flood, G. D. (1996). An Introduction to Hinduism. p. 235. New York: Cambridge University Press.
18. Flood, G. D. (1996). An Introduction to Hinduism. p. 96. New York: Cambridge University Press.
19. Vyās, S. K. Advaita Sāṃkhya Sūtras 5.11.
20. Vyās, S. K. Advaita Sāṃkhya Sūtras 5.12.
21. Vyās, S. K. Advaita Sāṃkhya Sūtras 5.13.
22. Vyās, S. K. Advaita Sāṃkhya Sūtras 5.14.
23. Vyās, S. K. Advaita Sāṃkhya Sūtras 5.15.
24. Vyās, S. K. Advaita Sāṃkhya Sūtras 5.16.