Plane (esotericism)
In esoteric cosmology, a plane, other than the physical plane is conceived as a subtle state of consciousness that transcends the known physical universe.
The concept may be found in religious, and esoteric teachings - e.g. Vedanta (Advaita Vedanta), shamanism, Hermeticism, Neoplatonism, Gnosticism, Kashmir Shaivism, Sant Mat/Surat Shabd Yoga, Sufism, Druze, Kabbalah, Theosophy, Anthroposophy, Rosicrucianism (Esoteric Christian), Eckankar, Ascended Master Teachings, etc. - which propound the idea of a whole series of subtle planes or worlds or dimensions which, from a center, interpenetrate themselves and the physical planet in which we live, the solar systems, and all the physical structures of the universe. This interpenetration of planes culminates in the universe itself as a physical structured, dynamic and evolutive expression emanated through a series of steadily denser stages, becoming progressively more material and embodied.
The emanation is conceived, according to esoteric teachings, to have been originated, at the dawn of the universe's manifestation, in The Supreme Being Who sent out - from the unmanifested Absolute beyond comprehension - the dynamic force of creative energy, as sound-vibration ("the Word"), into the abyss of space. On the other hand, it states that this dynamic force is being sent forth, through the ages, framing all things that constitute and inhabit the universe.
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[edit] Origins of the concept
The concept of planes of existence might be seen as deriving from shamanic and traditional mythological ideas of a vertical world-axis — for example a cosmic mountain, tree, or pole (such as Yggdrasil or Mount Meru) — or a philosophical conception of a Great Chain of Being, arranged metaphorically from God down to inanimate matter.
However the original source of the word "plane" in this context is the late Neoplatonist Proclus, who refers to to platos, "breadth", which was the equivalent of the 19th century theosophical use. An example is the phrase en to psuchiko platei.[1]
[edit] Conceptions in ancient traditions
Directly equivalent concepts in Indian thought are lokas and bhuvanas. In Hindu cosmology, there are many lokas or worlds, that are identified with both traditional cosmology and states of meditation.
Planes of existence may have been referred to by the use of the term corresponding to the word "egg" in English. For example, the Sanskrit term Brahmanda translates to "The Egg of Creation". Certain Puranic accounts posit that the Brahmanda is the superset of a set of fractal smaller Eggs, as is seen in the assertion of the equivalence of the Brahmanda and the Pinda.[2]
The ancient Norsemen and the Teutonic mythology called "Ginnungagap" to the primordial "Chaos," which was bounded upon the northern side by the cold and foggy "Niflheim"--the land of mist and fog—and upon the south side by the fire "Muspelheim." When heat and cold entered into space which was occupied by Chaos or Ginnungagap, they caused the crystallization of the visible universe.
In the medieval West and Middle East, one finds reference to four worlds (olam) in Kabbalah, or five in Sufism (where they are also called tanazzulat; "descents"), and also in Lurianic Kabbalah. In Kabbalah, each of the four or five worlds are themselves divided into ten sefirot, or else divided in other ways.
[edit] Esoteric conceptions
The alchemists of the Middle Ages proposed ideas about the constitution of the universe through a hermetic language full of esoteric words, phrases and signs designed to cloak their meaning from those not initiated into the ways of alchemy. In his "Physica" (1633), the Rosicrucian alchemist Jan Baptist van Helmont, wrote: "Ad huc spiritum incognitum Gas voco," i.e., "This hitherto unknown Spirit I call Gas." Further on in the same work he says, "This vapor which I have called Gas is not far removed from the Chaos the ancients spoke of." Later on, similar ideas would evolve around the idea of aether.
In the late 19th century, the metaphysical term "planes" was popularised by the theosophy of H.P. Blavatsky, who in The Secret Doctrine and other writings propounded a complex cosmology consisting of seven planes and subplanes, based on a synthesis of Eastern and Western ideas. From theosophy the term made its way to later esoteric systems such as that of Alice Bailey, who was very influential in shaping the worldview of the New Age movement. The term is also found in some Eastern teachings that have some Western influence, such as the cosmology of Sri Aurobindo and some of the later Sant Mat, and also in some descriptions of Buddhist cosmology. The teachings of Surat Shabd Yoga also include several planes of the creation within both the macrocosm and microcosm, including the Bramanda egg contained within the Sach Khand egg. Max Theon used the word "States" (French Etat) rather than "Planes", in his cosmic philosophy, but the meaning is the same.
In the early 20th century, Max Heindel presented in The Rosicrucian Cosmo-Conception a cosmology related to the scheme of evolution in general and the evolution of the solar system and the earth in particular, according to the Rosicrucians. He establishes, through the conceptions presented, a bridge between modern science (currently starting research into the subtler plane of existence behind the physical, the etheric one) and religion, in order that this last one may be able to address man's inner questions raised by scientific advancement.
The spiritual teacher Meher Baba proposed that there are six planes of consciousness that must be experienced before one can attain God-realization on the seventh plane: "Each definite stage of advancement represents a state of consciousness, and advancement from one state of consciousness to another proceeds side by side with crossing the inner planes. Thus six intermediate planes and states of consciousness have to be experienced before reaching the seventh plane which is the end of the journey and where there is final realisation of the God-state."[3]
[edit] Emanation vs. the big bang
Most cosmologists today believe that the universe exploded into being some 13.7 billion years ago in a 'smeared-out singularity' called the Big Bang, meaning that space itself came into being at the moment of the big bang and has expanded ever since, creating and carrying the galaxies with it. In 1951, this theory received the blessing of Pope Pius XII.
However, in esoteric cosmology expansion refers to the emanation or unfolding of steadily denser planes or spheres from the spiritual summit, what Greek philosophy called 'The One', until the lowest and most material world is reached.
According to Rosicrucians, another difference is that there is no such thing as empty or void space.
"The space is Spirit in its attenuated form; while matter is crystallized space or Spirit. Spirit in manifestation is dual, that which we see as Form is the negative manifestation of Spirit--crystallized and inert. The positive pole of Spirit manifests as Life, galvanizing the negative Form into action, but both Life and Form originated in Spirit, Space, Chaos! On the other hand, Chaos is not a state which has existed in the past and has now entirely disappeared. It is all around us at the present moment. Were it not that old forms--having outlived their usefulness--are constantly being resolved back into that Chaos, which is also as constantly giving birth to new forms, there could be no progress; the work of evolution would cease and stagnation would prevent the possibility of advancement."[4]
[edit] The Planes
In occult teachings and as held by psychics and other esoteric authors there are seven planes of existence.[5]
Most occult and esoteric teachings are in agreement that seven planes of existence exist, however many different occult and metaphysical schools label the planes of existence with different terminology.
[edit] Physical plane
The physical plane or physical universe, in emanationist metaphysics taught in Neoplatonism, Hermeticism, Hinduism and Theosophy, refers to the visible reality of space and time, energy and matter: the physical universe in Occultism and esoteric cosmology is the lowest or densest of a series of planes of existence.
[edit] Astral plane
The astral plane, also known as the emotional plane is where consciousness goes after physical death, according to occult philosophy man posesses an astral body.
The Theosophist author Curuppumullage Jinarajadasa wrote that "When a person dies, they become fully conscious in the astral body. After a certain time, the astral body disintegrates, and the person then becomes conscious on the mental plane."[6]
Occultist George Arundale wrote:
In the astral world exist temporarily all those physical entities, men and animals, for whom sleep involves a separation of the physical body for a time from the higher bodies. While we "sleep", we live in our astral bodies, either fully conscious and active, or partly conscious and semi-dormant, as the case may be, according to our evolutionary growth; when we "wake", the physical and the higher bodies are interlocked again, and we cease to be inhabitants of the astral world.” [7]
Some writers have claimed the astral plane can be reached by dreaming. Sylvan Muldoon and psychical researcher Hereward Carrington in their book The Projection of the Astral Body (1929) wrote:
"When you are dreaming you are not really in the same world as when you are conscious — in the physical — although the two worlds merge into one another. While dreaming, you really are in the astral plane, and usually your astral body is in the zone of quietude."[8]
[edit] Mental plane
The mental plane, also known as the causal plane is the third lowest plane according to Theosophy. The mental plane is divided into seven sub-planes.
Charles Leadbeater wrote:
In the mental world one formulates a thought and it is instantly transmitted to the mind of another without any expression in the form of words. Therefore on that plane language does not matter in the least; but helpers working in the astral world, who have not yet the power to use the mental vehicle.[9]
Annie Besant wrote that "The mental plane, as its name implies, is that which belongs to consciousness working as thought; not of the mind as it works through the brain, but as it works through its own world, unencumbered with physical spirit-matter.[10]
A detailed description of the mental plane, along with the mental body, is provided by Arthur E. Powell, who has compiled information in the works of Besant and Leadbeater in a series of books on each of the subtle bodies.
According to Hindu occultism the mental plane consists of two divisions, the lower division is known as heaven (swarglok) and the upper division is known as the causal plane (maharlok).[11]
Satguru Sivaya Subramuniyaswami wrote:
- "The causal plane is the world of light and blessedness, the highest of heavenly regions, extolled in the scriptures of all faiths. It is the foundation of existence, the source of visions, the point of conception, the apex of creation. The causal plane is the abode of Lord Siva and His entourage of Mahadevas and other highly evolved souls who exist in their own self-effulgent form--radiant bodies of centillions of quantum light particles."[12]
Sri Aurobindo developed a very different concept of the mental plane, through his own synthesis of Vedanta (including the Taittiriya Upanishad), Tantra, Theosophy, and Max Théon ideas (which he received via The Mother, who was Theon's student in occultism for two years). In this cosmology, there are seven cosmic planes, three lower, corresponding to relative existence (the Physical, Vital, and Mental), and four higher, representing infinite divine reality (Life Divine bk.1 ch.27) The Aurobindonian Mind or Mental Plane constitutes a large zone of being from the mental vital to the overmental divine region (Letters on Yoga, Jyoti and Prem Sobel 1984), but as with the later Theosophical concept it constitutes an objective reality of pure mind or pure thought.
[edit] Buddhic plane
The Buddhic plane is described as a realm of pure consciousness.[13] According to Theosopy the buddhic plane exists to develop buddhic Consciousness which means to become unselfish and solve any problems with the ego.[14] Charles Leadbeater wrote that in the buddhic plane man casts off the delusion of the self and enters a realization of unity.[15]
Annie Besant defined the buddhic plane as:
Persistant, conscious, spiritual awareness. This is the full consciousness of the buddhic or intuitional level. This is the perceptive consciousness which is the outstanding characteristic of the Hierarchy. The life focus of the man shifts to the buddhic plane. This is the fourth or middle state of consciousness.[16]
Sri Aurobindo calls the level above the mental plane the supermind.[17]
[edit] Spiritual plane
George Winslow Plummer wrote that the spiritual plane is split into many sub-planes and that on these planes live spiritual beings who are more advanced in development and status than ordinary man.[18] According to metaphysical teachings the goal of the spiritual plane is to gain spiritual knowledge and experience.[19]
[edit] Divine plane
According to some occult teachings, all souls are born on the divine plane and then descend down through the lower planes, however souls will work their way back to the divine plane.[20][21] On the divine plane souls can be opened to conscious communication with the sphere of the divine known as the Absolute and receive knowledge about the nature of reality.[22]
Rosicrucianism teaches that the divine plane is where Jesus dwelt in Christ consciousness.[23]
[edit] Logoic plane
The logoic plane is the highest plane, it has been described as a plane of total oneness, the "I AM Presence". Joshua David Stone describes the plane as complete unity with God.[24]
[edit] Alleged inhabitants of the various planes
Occult writers such as Geoffrey Hodson, Mellie Uyldert and Dora van Gelder had attempted to classify different spiritual beings into a hierarchy based on their place and function on the planes of existence.
Charles Webster Leadbeater fundamentally described and incorporated his comprehension of intangible beings for Theosophy. Along with him there are various planes intertwined with the quotidian human world and are all inhabited by multitudes of entities. Each plane is purported as composed of discrete density of astral or ethereal matter and frequently the denizens of a plane have no discernment of other ones. Other Theosophical writers such as Alice Bailey, a contemporary of Leadbeater, also gave continuousness to Theosophical concepts of ethereal beings and her works had a great impact over New Age movement.[25][26] She puts the nature spirits and devas as ethereal beings immersed in macro divisions of an interwoven threefold universe, usually they belong to the etheric, astral or mental planes. The ethereal entities of the four kingdoms, Earth, Air, Fire, and Water, are forces of nature.
The Dutch writer Mellie Uyldert, self-proclaimed clairvoyant, characterized the semblance and behavior of ethereal entities on the etheric plane, which, she said, hover above plants and transfer energy for vitalizing the plant, then nourishing themselves on rays of sunlight. She depicted them as asexual gender, and composed of etheric matter. They fly three meters over the ground, some have wings like butterflies while others only have a small face and an aura waving graciously. Some are huge while others may have the size of one inch.[27]
[edit] See also
- Astral Body
- Astral Projection
- Aura
- D-brane
- Esoteric cosmology
- Many-worlds interpretation
- Silver cord
- Spiritual evolution
- Spirituality
- Subtle Body
[edit] References
- ^ Dodds, cited in Poortman, 1978, vol II, p. 54
- ^ Kak, Subhash: The Architecture of Knowledge
- ^ Baba, Meher (1967). Discourses. 2. San Francisco: Sufism Reoriented. p. 22. ISBN: 978-1880619094.
- ^ Heindel, Max, The Rosicrucian Cosmo-Conception (Chapter XI: The Genesis and Evolution of our Solar System), 1909, ISBN 0-911274-34-0
- ^ Seven Planes of Existence - Theta Medical Intuition
- ^ First Principles of Theosophy, pp. 139-140
- ^ Curuppumullagē Jinarājadāsa First Principles of Theosophy Theosophical Publishing House, 1922, p. 93
- ^ Sylvan J. Muldoon and Hereward Carrington Projection of the Astral Body Kessinger reprint edition, 2003, p. 97
- ^ Charles Leadbeater, The Inner Life, p. 264
- ^ Annie Besant The Ancient Wisdom: An Outline of Theosophical Teachings 1939, Chapter IV
- ^ Ravindra Kumar, Jytte Larsen The Kundalini book of living and dying: gateways to a higher consciousness 2004, p. 39
- ^ Satguru Sivaya Subramuniyaswami, Dancing With Siva : Hinduism's Contemporary Catechism, 1996, xxxv, 1008 p., ill., Sixth Edition, First Printing, 2003 Himalayan Academy online
- ^ Joshua David Stone, Janna Shelley A Beginner's Guide to the Path of Ascension p. 11
- ^ Charles Leadbeater Inner Life Kessinger reprint edition, 2003, p.226
- ^ Charles Leadbeater The Masters and the Path 2007, p. 180
- ^ Alice Bailey The Rays and the Initiations 1971, p. 463
- ^ Madis Senner The Way Home: Making Heaven on Earth 2009, p. 239
- ^ George Winslow Plummer Mercury: An Official Organ of the Societas Rosicruciana in America 1916-1921 Kessinger reprint edition, 1998, p. 106
- ^ Raymond T. Kranyak Metaphysical Secrets for Health and Success in Life 2009, p. 12
- ^ M. C. Poinsot Complete Book of the Occult and Fortune Telling Kessinger reprint edition, 2003, p. 472
- ^ The encyclopedia of occult sciences, R. M. McBride and company, 1939, p. 472
- ^ John Hamlin Dewey New Testament of Occultism Kessinger reprint edition, 2003, p. 105
- ^ The Rosicrucian Digest September 1932, p. 288
- ^ Joshua David Stone, Janna Shelley Parker A Beginner's Guide to the Path of Ascension 1998, p. 13
- ^ Gary Laderman, Luis D. León; Religion and American cultures: an encyclopedia of traditions, diversity, and popular expressions - Volume 3, 2003; p. 236. ISBN 157607238X.
- ^ Michael York, The emerging network: a sociology of the New Age and neo-pagan movements, 1995; p. 66. ISBN 0847680010.
- ^ Mellie Uyldert The psychic garden: Plants and their esoteric relationship with man Thorsons, 1980 ISBN 0722505485
[edit] Further reading
- Johannes Jacobus Poortman, Vehicles of Consciousness. The Concept of Hylic Pluralism, The Theosophical Society in Netherlands, 1978
- Heindel, Max, The Rosicrucian Mysteries (Chapter III: The Visible and the Invisible Worlds), 1911, ISBN 0-911274-86-3
- H.P. Blavatsky, The Secret Doctrine, Theosophical Publishing House, 1888
[edit] External links
- Vedic cosmology - planetarium
- Planes of Existence - Spiritual Science Research Foundation
- Planes of Existence - Kheper website
- The Thirty-one Planes of Existence - according to Buddhist cosmology
- Genesis, Planes of Creation, Positive & Negative Powers - cosmology according to Radhasoami/Sant Mat teachings
- “The Grand Scheme of All Creation” - part of the Sant Ajaib Singh Ji Memorial Site (a small Radhasoami cosmological diagram)
- The creation according to Sant Mat
- The inner planes of creation (pdf) - a Surat Shabd Yoga/Sant Mat diagram
- The Great Continuum Of Consciousness according to George A. Boyd
- The Material World a Reverse Reflection of the Spiritual Worlds according to Rosicrucian cosmology:
- Multidimensionality of the Universe - based on the philosophy of Vladimir Antonov
