What is Meant by Aadhibhautika, Aadhidaivika and Aadhyaatmika?

[A question by Shri Phani]

Swami replied: In the Gita, it is said that adhibhūta is that which is non-eternal (Adhibhūtam kṣaro bhāvaḥ), adhidaiva is the Lord (Īśvara) (Puruṣaścādhi daivatam) and adhyātma is the natural tendency of the soul (Svabhāvodhyātmam ucyate). This means that adhibhūta is the entire lot of items within creation, which are studied by science and which are governed by scientific laws. Adhidaiva means the administration of the Lord (Īśvara), who is the first Energetic Incarnation of the unimaginable God (Parabrahman). Adhyātma means the inherent attitude of the soul, which is also the basis of the spiritual path.

If you go out and get drenched in the rain, you will catch a cold, but if you use an umbrella, you will be saved. The problem of getting wet in the rain and catching a cold is an ādhibhautika problem since it is caused by items within God’s creation. The present problem of the coronavirus pandemic is an ādhidaivika problem since it has come due to the will of God. It is meant to punish sinners. At present, it is inevitable and so, there is no remedy for it. An ādhyātmika problem is that which originates due to the soul’s own wrong thinking. For instance, when a soul thinks that it itself is God and suffers as a consequence of the wrong thinking, the suffering is ādhyātmika. Practically, we find that all three overlap with each other. But the second one, which is adhidaiva is very powerful and it controls the other two.

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| Shri Dattaswami | What is Meant by Aadhibhautika, Aadhidaivika and Aadhyaatmika? | Adhibhuutam ksharo bhaavah Purushashchaadhi daivatam Swabhaavodhyaatmam uchyate Adhibhuuta Adhidaiva Adhyaatma Aadhidaivika