THE ARCHITECTURE OF THE SOUL #5

THE FIVE LEVELS OF THE SOUL 

AND THE FOUR WORLDS OF MANIFESTATION

 

"Play in the exultation of the possible." M. Buber

 

We are much more than we know ...

Trying to explain the architecture of the soul is a little like a layman  trying to explain quantum physics. Even the quantum physicists acknowledge that those who think they understand quantum physics, do not understand it.

The Ancestors say that our role is not to try and explain the mystery but to be in awe of it. However, it helps to try, because the deeper we go, the less we know and this accentuates the awe. When we open Pandora’s box, the mystery becomes even more opaque. Knowing more about the mystery does not make it any less mysterious. It enhances our humility. 

Out of the Light of Infinity the Creator made Somethingness out of Nothingness, the multiverse as well as our souls beginning with ...

Unity. 

There were

 Four Worlds of Manifestation

(and Four separate Trees of Life for each)

represented by; 

Emanation 

(The Intention)

Creation 

(The Plan)

 Formation

 (All the elements coming together after the Big Bang)

 Actualization 

(The Manifestation)

The Five Levels of the Soul or levels of God Consciousness 

 correspond to these 

Four Worlds of Manifestation.

There are a Five Levels of God Consciousness.

The first component of the soul (Unity,) 

emanates from the Infinite One and descends through the Four Worlds of Manifestation; 

Emanation, Creation, Formation and Actualization, until it is clothed in a physical body. 

Actualization manifests in the lowest sephira of the T.O.L.

The Five Levels of Soul are 

Unity, 

Intellect, 

Mind

Energy

  The Physical 

(corresponding to these Worlds (or Planes of Reality) 

These Five Levels of the Soul or God Consciousness are similar to Patanjali's Five Sheaths of Consciousness. 

This is an attempt - for clarification and hopefully simplification  - to examine the architecture of the soul by combining 

Patanjali's Five Sheaths of Consciousness 

with Kabbalah's concept of - the

 Five Levels of the Soul. 

Patanjali's model is less complicated and easier to use and so I will describe what I know of it first.

Patanjali’s Five Sheaths of Consciousness

 

The Food or Body Sheath is the physical and all of us facing the challenges of being in a sentient body. We are here to enjoy it fully, but responsibly.

The Mind Sheath, the Intellectual Sheath and Ego form a triad 

which is always in flux. Depending on our spiritual practice we can subordinate; 

Mind (Monkey or Narrow Mind) to the Intellectual sheath (Spacious Mind,) and Ego to the Higher Self 

(and according to the Ancestors, our Evil Inclination or Shadow to our Inclination to do Good.). 

Spiritual practice will also help us control our subconscious' 

Store Consciousness and subordinate the dark side to the light side of our past life experiences. 

Without spiritual practice and spiritual knowledge we will usually confine ourselves to the material and the sentient pleasures of the body and the Body/Food sheath. 

The way to God is through the senses. 

From my flesh will I behold the Creator.

A sensory, energetic practice - in yoga; asanas (postures,) pranayama (breath meditation,) sacred chants and other practices will help to access the Energy Sheath or this sheath of Breath -Prana. 

"With song one can enter the gates of heaven." Chassidic proverb

"We pray by singing and dancing." Sangoma wisdom

This goes a long way to controlling the Mind Sheath and allowing the Intellectual Sheath (Spacious Mind, Christ Consciousness, Buddha Mind) to supervene. Ultimately when all is in balance we can access 

Bliss - the Oneness Experience or Unity Consciousness. 

(Where the Knower, the Known and the process of Knowing become one thing.)

The Mind Sheath is the seat of our primitive emotions. These emotions were meant for survival and connect us to our autonomic,  sympathetic, flight of fight response. 

Neuroscience and Functional M.R.I. studies have shown that in non-meditators F.M.R.I activity usually default to the primitive areas of the brain and confines us to the Body Sheath. 

We all know the mantra, sound of body, sound of mind. 

Everything is imprinted in the body which will affect all levels of our consciousness. The Yogi masters understood this.

We need to attend the Food and the Energy Sheaths and keep them as well tuned as possible or it will be difficult to attain higher states of spiritual transformation.

The Intellectual Sheath connects us to our higher consciousness. F.M.R.I. studies also show that in advanced meditators activity defaults to the prefrontal lobe, the mediator of our higher ideas, ideals, goals, beliefs, discernments and discriminations. These practitioners also appear to have more neuronal density in this area on the scans. In the Intellectual Sheath we experience feelings that are love generated and which facilitate positive emotions rather than Monkey Mind, fear based, unskillful emotions. 

In Kabbalah 

The Five Levels of Soul are 

Unity

Intellect 

Mind

Energy

  The Physical 

 

During its evolution down the Tree of Life 

Unity is completed by Intellect, Mind, Energy and manifest in the Physical Body at Kingdom, the lowest Sephira on the Tree of Life. 

These Five Levels are similar to Patanjali's Sheaths of Consciousness.

THE FIVE LEVELS OF THE SOUL 

or levels of God Consciousness are: 

UNITY (Yechida) 

Patanjali's Sheath of Bliss

  WISDOM (Chaya) or INTELLECT

The Intellectual Sheath

UNDERSTANDING (Neshama) or MIND  

The Mind Sheath

(The Shadow side of Mind)

ENERGY, BREATH OR SPIRIT (Ruach) 

The Energy Sheath 

THE PHYSICAL OR THE BODY (Nephesh)

The Body Sheath

As below

 This information can help us in attaining spiritual transformation. 

If we do not attend to the Body it affects our Energy. 

If neither are in balance we dwell in Monkey Mind. 

Without spiritual knowledge and practice we confine ourselves to the Shadow side of Mind and may never consider Intellect or Wisdom. 

Even if we attune to all these things it will be diffiult to attain Keter (Unity) or the Crown chakra (Bliss-Oneness) but we have to do the best that we can.

The gates are wide but few will enter.