According to yogashastras, we have three bodies. These three bodies consist of the physical body, astral or subtle body & the casual or super-subtle body. Throughout in the subtle body are energy channels through which our life-energy flows. By regular practice of yoga & pranayama we can keep our physical body under control and it would be easier for you to reach our higher self. The astral or the subtle body is related to the mind & chakra energy system. Breathing exercises, the practice of prathyhara & concentration can help control the astral or subtle body. The casual or the super-subtle body is the finest body. It contains the soul itself & our connection to the God. We can communicate with this body through meditation & the attainment of samadhi or enlightenment.
1. Physical Body
Physical sheath is composed of food, blood, flesh, bones, skin, hair, organs and systems. This is the body, which is most familiar to us. It is also made of five elements namely earth, water, fire, air and space. Each body system is related to a particular element, i.e. the skeletal system is related to earth, the circulatory and immune systems to water, the respiratory system to air, the digestive system to fire and the central nervous system to space. This remains in a state of balance only when all the elements are in synchronization. The gross or physical body obtained knowledge of external world through ear, skin, eyes, tongue and nose & does actions through mouth, arms, legs, anus and penis which help her for functioning of speech, holding, walking, excretion and procreation. Due to the presence of the ego, this body undergoes six transformations: birth, growth, disease, old age, decay and death and has qualities like I am fat or thin, I am white or black, I am young or old, I am man or a women, I am healthy or sick, attractive or unattractive, big or small. They feel separate form the self & it is very difficult for them to leave these. It is our responsibility to take good care of this sheath & re-define our relationship with our body through regular yogic asanas, cleansing kriyas, proper diet and relaxation. As the body purifies, we begin to experience the inner bodies, energy and consciousness manifest in a subtler form. Then you realize that the body is not the self. Hence the self is different from the body, unchanging, ever pure and free from modifications.
2. Astral Body
The next layer of experience is pranamaya kosha, movement of the pranic force directing our physical and mental activities. This movement happens through nadis or channels, conductors of energy which are controlled by the six chakras. Vital sheath is a subtler sheath when compared to annamaya kosha. This is composed of vital energy. As long as this vital energy exists in the organisms, life continues. This sheath is responsible for our physiological functions namely breathing, digesting, metabolizing, circulation, endocrinal, neural, skeletal, muscular etc. This body has qualities like hunger, thirst, sleep, fatigue, evacuation and regeneration. These states come in cycles and depend upon external conditions such as food, air, water and other factors. Due to the presence of the ego, our body functions become imbalanced. To balance these systems, one of the methods of purification of the nadis or channels is through Nadi-sodhana pranayama. As you begin to experience this aspect of existence, you discover that this sheath is merely an illusion covering over the eternal self. Hence the self is different from the body, unchanging, ever pure and free from modifications.
Astral Body –Lower Mind
This sheath is the energy of action. This mental sheath is composed of two qualities, mana (mind) and buddhi (intellect). Mana is the rational, linear, sequential, thoughtful mind. Buddhi is the quality of discrimination which comes after knowledge, after the removal or the absence of ignorance. The former constitutes the manomaya kosha, while the latter is called as the Vigyanmaya Kosha. Mind gives power to the senses in sense perceptions & action. It collects the sensory information from the senses & sends them to the intellect for ascertaining their nature. This portion of the mind lacks the cognitive abilities of reasoning, void of any discrimination. People residing in this layer experience pain, pleasure, longing, doubt, fear and the many tides of emotion. When the mind is cheerful, we are happy. When mind is gloomy, we are depressed. We are at the mercy of the mind that waxes and wanes. We suffer from these because we gave all the powers to the mind and made it our master. These vrittis of this mind lead to habitual imbalances at manomaya kosha. You can learn to control the mind & intellect sheaths through breath control, the practice of sense withdrawal (pratyahara) & concentration techniques. When these techniques are done with a sense of total devotion, body purifies & it loses its solidity. Then anger and serenity, sadness and happiness, sorrow and joy are each welcomed happily. As you begin to experience this aspect of existence, you discover that this sheath is merely an illusion covering over the eternal self. Hence the self is different from the body, unchanging, ever pure and free from modifications. Therefore, the self is a witness of the Manomaya Kosha.
Astral Body-Higher Mind
The Vijnanamaya kosha is the sheath of the intellect (buddhi) and intuitive knowledge/wisdom which gives us the discriminative capability that helps to differentiate between virtues & vice, good & bad, right and wrong, truth & untruth. It controls the mind, the senses, the fructifying samskaras & all activities of the body. This knowledge helps us for our inner growth, ethics and moral. The intellect can be looked upon as having two components- one that is controlled by our ego and driven by our past memories and impressions (samskaras) and the other which is controlled by our pure intuition. The ego-driven intellect can lead to actions when it gets co-mingled with the memories and is clouded over by the manas which result in pain and suffering. Its knowledge is affected by the moods of the mind and other factors. Through the practices of meditation, regular self-study & enrichment of knowledge through libraries & discourses could lead towards devotion. Our mind becomes purified and the intellect can then begin to depend more and more on the pure intuitive wisdom rather than be influenced by the ego. As you begin to experience this aspect of existence, you discover that this sheath is merely an illusion covering over the eternal self. Hence the self is different from the body, unchanging, ever pure and free from modifications. Therefore, the self is a witness of the Vijnanamaya Kosha.
– 5 Organs of action (karma indriyas)
Literally translated, karmendriya means ‘organ of action’ – that which facilitates our sensory contact with the outer world — or that which enables us to interact with the material objects of the world. These 5 organs of action are:
+ Pada (feet) — for locomotion
+ Pani (hands) — for dexterity
+ Payu (rectum) — for excretion
+ Upastha (genitals) — for reproduction
+ Vak (mouth) — for speech
– 5 Organs of knowledge (jnana indriyas)
+ Shotra — ears
+ Chakshu — eyes
+ Grahna — nose
+ Jivha — tongue
+ Tvak — skin
– 5 Pranas (Vital energies)
Prana, Apana, Vyana, Samana, Udana
– 4 Elements of antahkarana (inner instrument)
+ Instruments of Mind,
+ Sub Conscious Mind,
+ Intellect
+ Ego
3. Casual Body
When we can transcend the other four layers described above, we can begin to experience a sense of pure joy which does not need any sensory input or any of the past experiences or impressions. This kosha is the finest, thinnest veil covering the self (atman) and could also be called the level of the soul. It contains the essence of an individual soul’s experiences of countless lifetimes and stage of spiritual evolution. On this level, there is a strong awareness about the oneness of the individual and the absolute. But as long as there is individuality, there must be a faint sense of ego. With the grace of God, you can get rid of ego by good deeds, self-suggested happiness, deep awareness of being (samadhi) & morning walk could bring a person to this level of the self. Samadhi is the transcendent state of union with the divine. All the impurities and dross evaporate, and effulgence of soul is experienced. Then one can imagine an afterlife where one no longer has a body, where there is no need for breath, where the mind doesn’t process data anymore. At that point a human being experiences true divinity, the realization of self or God. The yogi who resides in the bliss sheath experiences absolute peace, joy and love.
THE FIVE SHEATHS OF EXISTENCE
Within these three bodies are five sheaths of existence, which are like layers of energy, each containing & governing different aspects of your body. They are the physical sheath (annamaya-kosha, the vital sheath (pranamay-kosha), the mind sheath (manomaya-kosha), the intellect sheath (vijnanamaya-kosha) & the bliss sheath (anandamaya-kosha). These five sheaths are the covering of the self or the soul. Taittiriya Upanishad gives us the Pancha Kosha Viveka to help discriminate between the self & the not-self. They help us understand what is self & how these sheets move from the gross physical body to the subtle spiritual body. Once we develop an understanding of the five koshas, it helps us slowly peel off these layers and bring us closer to our true identity.
