SATYA X PRATIBHASHIKA V VYAVAHARIKA V PARAMARTHIKA

 A

Bullet Gist

• Vedanta dismisses nothing; everything is carefully examined to determine whether it is true or false.

• Reality is understood from different standpoints, giving rise to three grades of reality.

• Pratibhashika Satya (Apparent Reality)

  • Exists only temporarily (“that which shines for a short time”).

  • Example: dream experiences, valid only while dreaming.

• Vyavaharika Satya (Transactional Reality)

  • Reality experienced through sense perception.

  • Called transactional because objects are real enough for worldly dealings.

  • Includes physical objects as well as mental products like thoughts and ideas.

  • From this standpoint, dream reality is considered unreal.

• Paramarthika Satya (Absolute Reality)

  • The absolute standpoint, where even transactional reality loses its independent reality.

  • Concerns Brahman / Consciousness, the subtlest truth.

  • The other two grades exist within this absolute reality.

• Tattva Bodha deals with Paramarthika Satya.

  • Its central teaching is “Jiva Brahma Aikya” — the identity of the individual (Jiva) and Brahman.

  • At this level, Tattva Bodha represents knowledge of Reality itself.

• Since Tattva Bodha focuses on a single topic, it is classified as a Prakarana Grantha.

  • A text covering all six Vedantic topics would be called a Shastra Grantha.

• At Sandeepany, Tattva Bodha is considered especially important because it clarifies and removes confusion about Vedantic terminology.

A

Here are 3 clear examples for each of the three grades of reality in Vedanta:

1. Pratibhashika Satya (Apparent / Illusory Reality)

• Dreaming that you are flying or being chased

• Seeing a snake in a rope in dim light

• Mirage water seen in a desert

2. Vyavaharika Satya (Transactional / Empirical Reality)

• Using money to buy goods in a market

• Interacting with people, objects, and events in daily life

• Thoughts, emotions, and ideas that influence actions and decisions

3. Paramarthika Satya (Absolute Reality)

• Brahman / Pure Consciousness

• The Self (Atman) as identical with Brahman

• Awareness that remains unchanged in waking, dream, and deep sleep

These examples show how reality is progressively refined from appearance → transaction → absolute truth.

A