Whole Crux of spiritual journey of soul once it attains human form!
Will talk about sanskaras, rebirth, spiritual planes & Siddhi. Few concepts will be expanded in respective articles & further refined.
All souls were, are & will be in Paramatma/ Over-soul All souls are Infinite, Eternal, Formless All souls are ONE There's no difference in souls, in their BEING or in existence There's difference in: 1 Consciousness of souls 2 Planes of consciousness of souls 3 Experience of souls
Most souls are conscious of Gross body (sthul sharir) Some are conscious of Subtle body (prana) Few are conscious of Mental body (mana) Very few are conscious of Self Most experience Gross plane Some experience Subtle plane Few experience Mental plane Very few experience Self
As per experience they are said to be in: Most in Gross world (anna bhumika) Some in Subtle world (prana bhumika) Few in Mental world (Man bhumika) Very few in Beyond mental world (vijnan bhumika)
Soul with Gross impressions experiences Gross world (stage 0) through Gross body: Seeing hearing, smelling, eating, sleeping, procreating, clearing bladder& bowels. Soul with Subtle impressions experiences Subtle world (stage1-3) through subtle body: Seeing, smelling &hearing
Soul with mental impressions experiences Mental world (stage 5-6) through Mental body: Only seeing & that seeing is of God Soul with no impressions experiences through Self: Infinite bliss, knowledge & power of Paramatma/Over-soul (stage7)
In subtle body, soul although functions through Gross body too but gross plane functions are reflexive They don't result in impressions of +ve/-ve In mental body, soul in reality, only experiences seeing. Rest functions of Gross & Subtle are reflexive. In a way soul is indifferent
So where consciousness of soul is centred, like in Gross, Subtle or Mental body, so are its experiences & so are resultant impressions & so it's said to be residing in respective world.
Stage 4 is threshold of subtle to mental world & is seat of Siddhi Stage 7 is Realization state
Evolution of consciousness till human form takes 7 major leaps (ignoring 7 gases): Stone to metal Metal to plant (including unicellular) Plant to worms (including microbes) Worms to Fish (Aquatic) Fish to Bird (including amphibian & reptiles) Bird to Animal Animal to Human
Evolution of Consciousness in Human form is also 7 stages: Stage 0 is in Gross plane - most humans 1-3 are in Subtle planes 4 is transition from Subtle to Mental planes- seat of Siddhi 5-6 are in Mental planes 7 is Realization So Creation is 7 fold Hence - "God created in 7 days"
In human form only, Subtle & Mental bodies are fully developed. Although soul has gained consciousness of human form (stage 0) THUS experiences Gross body/world YET is unconscious of Subtle or Mental body/world STILL works UNCONSCIOUSLY through Subtle or Mental body
This Gross centred, now-human soul, in fully developed Subtle & Mental bodies experiences in Gross world, impressions accumulated from last Animal Gross form just dissociated. When these impressions of last animal are exhausted through experience, 1st human form is dissociated.
Although this soul is dissociated from 1st human form (death), it's NEVER dissociated from its Subtle & Mental bodies since it had consciousness centred ONLY in Gross body & WASN'T conscious of Subtle & Mental bodies So it retains & experiences impressions through these bodies. Soul now experiences (in Subtle & Mental bodies) predominant counterpart of opposite impressions accumulated in just dissociated 1st human Gross form. So that it's now said to be in Hell/Heaven. It's state of intensive experience of impressions by now-human soul consciousness.
As soon as predominant counterpart of impressions is experienced & exhausted & just when equilibrium is about to be maintained between opposites of just dissociated human form impressions, soul AUTOMATICALLY associates with next human form, moulded of consolidated opposite impressions which were just about to be in equilibrium. So soul associates to this mould of remaining near balanced impressions as next birth to experience & exhaust residual opposite impressions. Further process of rebirth will b covered in separate article.
Soul is still unconscious of its original Infinte state because of unwanted but necessary burden of Gross impressions. In trying to unburden these impressions Gross consciousness of soul tends the soul to take innumerable opposite experiences through series of contrasting births.
In this process, while trying to liberate itself from burden of impressions, it gets further entangled at every rebirth. This is a vicious cycle! Man to woman High to low 1 religion to other Soul changes vessel in each successive birth!
In order to experience & exhaust predominant opposite impressions of last form, soul attaches to new form but it results in accumulation of FRESH impressions. Soul gets more concentrated in human forms. It seems never ending cycle & there appears no escape.
Only solution to thin-out this concentration of impressions is to experience these impressions in such a way that every impression experienced & the impression that this experience created, should be counterbalanced somehow by an opposite impression!
Therefore consciousness of soul has to identify itself a number of times as male then female, in varied creeds, castes, nationalities, colors, as rich & then pauper, healthy then sick....so on & so forth. So after 84 lacs human births, soul is possibly able to balance all out!
This balancing & successive rebirth process gradually thins-out Gross mould & consciousness now enters spiritual path & turns inwards Soul now gets Subtle conscious This is 1st time soul strives for liberation & not seeking experience of Gross ( stage 0 ) Gross impressions faint. Gross impressions become subtle. Subtle impressions become mental. Mental impressions eventually too wipe out (manonash), leaving consciousness free to clearly reflect Brahm! Usually this journey is sequential Soul has 3 planes in subtle(1-3) & 2 in mental(5-6) 4 is threshold
1st PLANE Kas nadanist kih manzilgah-i maqsud kujast In qadar hast kih bang-i jarasi miayad “It's not known where real abode of the Divine Beloved is; only this much is clear, that I hear the sound of bells (from the travelling caravans)" Nad/ celestial music is unique to one.
Gross-conscious soul partially on 1st plane experiences Subtle impressions with Gross senses When completely on 1st plane then it's Subtle-conscious & experiences strange nad may OR may NOT be accompanied by glimpse of vision or scent to nose Usually such experience is unnoticed.
2nd PLANE Ciguyamat kih bimay Kanih dush mast o Karab Surush-i ’alam-i Gaybam cih muzhdiha dadast? “How should I reveal to you that last night in the tavern, intoxicated and unsteady as I was, great good tidings were brought to me by the angel of the hidden world?”
Subtle-conscious soul though unconscious of Gross& Mental body but it DOES work through them INDIRECTLY through Subtle plane where it IS centred. It's oblivious of mundane work & at best is indifferent to Gross deeds & creates fresh Subtle impressions of sight, scent & sound only
It is gradually gaining consciousness of Infinite energy of Subtle world & so is capable of performing tricks or minor miracles, mostly on inanimate objects. Like stopping a moving object by focusing & strong will If aware of such "skill" then such individuals are labeled gifted.
3rd PLANE Cih rah mizanad in muvrib-i muqam shinas Kih dar miyan-i Gazal qul-i ashina avard “What perturbation & distress this musician with knowledge of (spiritual) states is causing the listeners (lovers) by interpolating in midst of his performance the words of Divine Beloved”
Subtle-conscious soul gains greater consciousness of INFINITE energy of Subtle world & it experiences greater FINITE power He's able to do Grand miracles & can give sight to blind or cure disease by touch/will just as casually as Gross-conscious soul makes use of gross matter.
1st plane is partially in Gross & partially in Subtle world 2nd & 3rd planes are totally in Subtle world 4th plane is partially in Subtle world & partially in Mental world. It's threshold of Mental world.
4th PLANE Mastam kun an cunan kih nadanam zi bi Kvudi Dar ’arsih Kiyal kih amad kudam raft “Make me so dazed & intoxicated that on account of this state of forgetfulness, I should be oblivious of what came to my mind and of what passed out of it” Seat of Siddhi/Muqam-e-hairat. In 2-3 planes there were occult powers But in 4th, there are true DIVINE powers. Standing at threshold, ONE feels intense desires & emotions. Here soul is FULLY conscious of INFINITE energy of Brahm, capable of even raising the dead, creating new forms & worlds breathing with life!
Despite all curiosity & amaze among common man regarding Siddhis, this is considered as darkest night in spiritual field. Make or break moment literally! Soul has power of Subtle & staring at desires of Mental world It faces intense desires to use infinite energy at disposal!
He's subject to most tantalizing temptations as he has overpowering desires, good or bad. Being a possessor, he's impelled to make good or bad use of it. If he misuses them, then all consciousness gained, is violently disintegrated to most primitive stone consciousness!
In 4th plane, only "good" use of powers is harnessing them for spiritual well being of others. BUT even good use binds & arrests further progress. Since he has got divine powers before he can fully step into mental world, leave aside control it. There's unimaginable psychic rush!
If he chooses to not use powers then he has to abandon them & move on to 5th plane. If he rightfully chooses to use for spiritual benefit of others without getting entangled then he rises directly to 6th plane. Having said that, it's ONE of 2 stages where he won't be travelling alone.
This 4th plane is extremely fiercely watched over by perfect masters/ Sadgurus/ Qutubs. 5 of them at any given time! Most of the time he is only tested & as soon as he decides on any choices, 1 of Sadgurus reveals himself & guide him for better path Compassionately he's helped.
5th PLANE Tu dastgu shu ay Kiyr-i pay Kujastih, kih man Piyadih miravam o hamrahan savaranand “O august master, lead me by the hand because I am traversing the Path on foot (helplessly) as compared with other companions who are riding along it" For first time, soul gets a Guru!
ONE on path can have a Guru already but crossing over to 5th plane, ABSOLUTELY necessitates hand of Guru. Such a Guru is always Sadguru who is himself realized. He's truly God in man. No matter if Jivatma (stage0) entered the spiritual path in Oblivion, Alone, now it must meet Guru.
In 5th plane, soul is now devoid of Subtle-conscious impressions and associates itself with Mental plane & experiences Mental world. Here soul gets absorbed in Thoughts. Good, bad, material, spiritual, high, low thoughts. It becomes inquiring or reflective mind & becomes master!
Here it can control thoughts of all Gross & Subtle conscious souls & influences them all in many unseen ways. His thoughts affect thoughts of all beings. This all happens automatically without conscious knowledge. He is called as Mahapurush/Wali. His gaze is enough to tear veil!
6th PLANE Ma dar piyalih ’aks-i ruK-i yar didih im Ay biKabar zi laxxat-i shurb-i mudam-i ma “We have seen the face of the Beloved reflected in the cup (of our mind or heart). O ignorant one, no notion have you of the bliss that we imbibe therefrom.” He is Satpurush/ Pir.
Mental-conscious soul now identifies 2nd part of mind, Feelings. He becomes sympathetic mind. He experiences Mental world through consciousness of feelings & has no thoughts. He's conscious of feeling of seeing God face to face. He sees God everywhere but can't see himself in God. He has mastery over not only thoughts but also emotions. Loving of God & longing for uninion is fully manifest now. He's almost devoid of all impressions & sitting face to face with God can see Him inside by feelings. But still conscious of Mind, experiences himself as separate.
At this stage, individuality is kept intact by a thread/ thin veil between him & Real identity. This is last stage of evolution for soul in body. At time of dropping of body, soul in 6th plane automatically realizes Brahm (stage7). But usually realization is craved for in body..!
For in-body Realization, it's ABSOLUTELY necessary to have a touch of Sadguru Mental conscious soul with last impression is still unable to shed it on own since it has nothing else to cling to. As in 4th plane, soul again is met by Grace of Sadguru. Else Realization won't occur!
7th PLANE After annihilation of mind (manonash) soul stands alone as SELF. Consciousness is now centred truly in self & it sees all Gross, Subtle, Mental planes/ Worlds as own shadow. All space is transcended at once. All NOWS are present. Self becomes Brahm WITH Consciousness!
This 7th stage is of Self/God-Realization. Journey of typical soul is now complete with evolution of seed of consciousness arising out of Unconscious Brahm as 1st urge & culminating in Conscious realization of original state. This is indirect way available to Brahm to know self.
This Self-Conscious soul is now Self-Realized & not only experiences infinite power, knowledge & bliss, which is its own innate nature, but also radiates them. Sometimes it can also make use of own Infinte power, knowledge & bliss DIRECTLY & Consciously for benefit of other souls.
In the process of realization it's but natural that most of souls leave the body & NEVER come back. This is Moksha/ Nirvana! All celestial beings (Devas) on other hand are only transient rest stages & they invariably need to come in body to balance out their remaining impressions.
Since original quest is now complete, hence there's no reason or method available for Self-Realized soul to remain in whatsoever form in existence. 5 out of every 8 Realized souls thus leave! But for benefit of seekers on 4th plane & at 6th plane, out of compassion, few remain.
Method for such souls, if so choose to remain, is by surrendering their realization & accepting newly made veil of ignorance, which essentially is Mental impression mould as crafted by Sadguru & agreed upon in advance by recently Realized soul. Such souls CAN & DO return!
These returners become Sadgurus themselves & relieve their masters which get Moksha. Sadguru once gone never returns! Those who remain however (3) can traverse any Gross, Subtle or Mental plane & can use infinite power of Subtle/ Mental plane by descending to that plane!
To perform a Grand miracle, which is only possible in 4th plane, Sadguru/Avatar stations himself transiently on 4th plane for this purpose. He is master of all planes/worlds, unlike ascending soul in 4th which is but a novice. He remains untouched by all the acts he does!
These souls who return or remain, sacrificing own liberation, are deemed higher than Parameshvar Himself! And everyone on path is destined to be touched by 1 of them There are stages within realization as sequential enlightment process ensues but that's for another article! 🙏
An article by GS
(Note, if anyone has any issues to the content in our website, kindly do drop us a mail at mantraam@pm.me)