Dimensions of our Existence
The methods by which we may broaden our consciousness to include our dimensionless state have been accounted for by the ancient sages. Patañjali’s Ashtanga system was developed with this premise and, if practiced intently and resolutely, it may reveal many discoveries of our perceived reality.
At times the following information will seem contradictory and, indeed, with so many different perspectives, it certainly appears to be so. Without a strictly dogmatic approach to the following information, we may use these mappings illustrated in the chart below to facilitate the discovery of different perspectives on our quest for knowledge.
| SANSKRIT BODY | Sthula Sharira | Sukshma Sharira | Karana Sharira |
| ENGLISH BODY |
Gross Physical Body | Astral Energetic Body | Causal Seed Body |
| PLANE OF EXISTENCE |
Bhu Loka: Earth | Bhuvar Loka: Astral Plane | Svaha Loka: Celestial Plane |
| COMPONENTS |
Bone, fat, flesh, blood, skin, marrow, semen | Emotions, mind, intellect | Blissful, vehicle for the soul |
| CONSTITUENTS |
Solid, liquid, gas | Etheric particles of atoms | Unaffected by other sheaths and their properties |
| ELEMENTS | Earth, water, fire, air, ether | ||
| SHEATHS | Annamaya Kosha:birth, death, growth, change, decay | Pranamaya Kosha: hunger, thirst, heat, cold,
pleasure and pain Manomaya: thinking, doubting, anger, lust, depression Vijnanomaya Kosha: discrimination, decision making |
Anandamaya Kosha:connection with unifying consciousness |
| OM | A | U | M |
| STATES OF CONSCIOUSNESS |
Waking State:includes all five koshas | Dreaming State:includes all but physical kosha | Deep Sleep:only activates the bliss sheath |
| CHAKRAS | Muladhara,Swadhistana, and
Manipura |
Anahata, Vishuddhi, and Ajna Chakra | Sahasrara |
| KARMA INDRIYAS (organs of action) |
Hands, feet, mouth, anus, genitals | ||
| JHANA INDRIYAS(organs of knowledge) | Senses: Smell, taste, touch, sight, hearing | ||
| VAYUS (vital airs) | Prana, apana, samana, udana, vyana | ||
| MENTAL DIMENSIONS | Gross/Conscious | Subtle/Subconscious | Subtle/Unconscious |
| LIMBS OF ASHTANGA YOGA | Yamas, Niyamas, Asana, Pranayama | Pratyahara, Dharana | Dhyana, Samadhi |
| GRANTHIS | Brahma | Vishnu | Siva (Rudra) |
Adapted from Mugs McConnell and Dariel Vogel, SOYA Training Manual.
