VEDANTA

Science of Consciousness

upahita

upahita

That which appears to take on the properties of that which is superimposed upon it (upādhi) and to give off its properties. The substrate, the support of everything, existence-consciousness (sat-cit), is thus called upahita. And māyā in the total case of īśvara, or ignorance in the individual case, is called upādhi.

Extended definition:
  • upahita

    That which appears to take on the properties of that which is placed upon it (upādhi), and seems to give off its properties. The substrate, the carrier of everything, existence-consciousness (sat-cit), is thus called upahita. And maya in the total case of īśvara, or ignorance in the individual case, is called upādhi.

    The self, ātman, is an upahita when an upādhi (something whose attribute is apparently transferred) appears. It appears that the upahita takes on the properties of the upādhi of ignorance (ajñāna). Therefore, it appears as if I am a person in a world, with all the qualities, properties, and issues that entail.

    But I, as upahita, am pure and free from all upādhi. I appear to be conditioned by ignorance, but in reality I am unconditioned. Nothing contaminates me, nothing can touch me.

    The two cannot be physically separated, but are said to be in a different order of reality (satya mithyā relationship).

The explanation of this Sanskrit term was written by Simon de Jong.
On the index page you will find the complete Sanskrit glossary.

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