Svabhava

Svabhava

Closely related to Svadharma is the idea of Svabhava.

Sva-bhava means 'Self-nature'. The recommendation given by many philosophers, spiritualists, counselors etc. to be happy is to get an answer to 'Who am I?".

There can be 3 identities that anyone takes in life.

1. Atman (Self)
2. Svabhava (Self-nature)
3. Ahamkaaram (Ego)

The Self has no qualities that our senses can perceive and is established in unity. The Self-nature has qualities that our senses can perceive and is based on unity in diversity. The Ego has qualities that our senses can perceive and is based on diversity. Objectively, each of the 3 serves some purpose. Even Ego, which in common understanding is regarded negatively serves the purpose of bringing individuality or ID without which one cannot even believe that one is existing in this world. After birth in this world, during the forward journey, the identity changes from the Self to the Self-nature to the Ego and then on the return journey from the Ego to the Self-nature to the Self.