ETHERIC BODY
Tapovan, 19th February 1994
The modern science has discovered PRANAMAYAKOSHA or PRANIC BODY. It was recognized by yoga long ago. The modern science has discovered the electro-structure and this electro-structure has been discovered in the plant life by Dr. Jagadish Chandra Bose of India. The electro-structure in animal life has been discovered by Dr. d’Arsonval of Paris. Prof. Czizivyeski of Moscow has discovered this electro-structure in the human life. Yoga recognized it thousands of years ago because the tradition of yoga is very old. In the chalcolithic (copper) age, which means more than five thousand years ago, yoga was in a flourishing condition. This electro-structure is known as the ETHERIC BODY or sometimes it is known as the FUNCTIONAL BODY. Today I shall speak about the etheric body. It is important.
Surrounding this physical body of every human being, there is the etheric body which is now known in modern terms as electro-structure. The etheric body is electrical in nature. Since it is electrical, yoga describes it luminous like lightning. The etheric body sends out radiation of force - both positive and negative, short and long vibrations. The appearance of these vibrations outside the physical body is known as AURA. The aura depends upon the etheric body. The aura of an individual may be strong or it may be weak. It all depends upon the etheric body. The appearance of vibrations issuing from the etheric body is known as aura. Aura surrounds the physical body. So, in aura there are different colours. He who is clairvoyant can read your aura and what predominant colour it contains. The nature of a human being depends upon the colour of the aura. Suppose, your aura is crimson in colour, it means that you have more energy. Let us speak later about the colours. This much is true, the aura surrounds the physical body of a human being and the strength or weakness of the aura depends upon the etheric body. The etheric body is a field of energy which maintains every atom and cell of the physical body. Therefore, the etheric body is known as the ARCHETYPAL BODY upon which the physical body stands.
There are three main functions of the etheric body:
1. It acts as the receiver of energy,
2. It acts as the assimilator of energy,
3. It acts as the transmitter of energy.
Reception, assimilation and transmission are the three main functions of the etheric body. These energies, having passed through the chakras, act upon the nervous system of the body. The nervous system gives stimulus to the endocrine glands and the endocrine glands secret hormones. They get mixed with the blood stream. Then these hormones determine the nature and character of man. Please, remember that chakras do exist in the etheric body, not in the physical body. Of course, chakras are there. They have close correspondence with the system of seven glands in the body. Chakra means a FORCE CENTRE or a FOCAL POINT in the etheric body. Then, there are seven chakras: Muladhara, Swadisthana, Manipuraka, Anahata, Vishuddhi, Agneya, Sahasrara. Corresponding to these seven chakras in the etheric body are seven glands in the physical body.
MULADHARA THE GONADS
SWADISTHANA THE ADRENALS
MANIPURAKA PANCREAS
ANAHATA THYMUS
VISHUDDHI THYROID AND PARATHYROIDS
AGNEYA PITUITARY GLAND
SAHASRARA PINEAL GLAND
Now, recently there has been the renaissance of yoga. Though its tradition is very old, it is now being revived. People all over the world are taking interest in yoga. So, there has been the renaissance or rebirth of yoga during the recent past, about 3-4 decades ago. This renaissance or rebirth has taken three major directions:
1. There has been an establishment of relation between Yoga and Vedanta.
2. There's a spread of yoga, both in India and abroad, with its attendant benefits.
3. There's an application of yoga as preventive and curative therapy for diseases of both the body and the mind.
This brings us to the problem of the relationship between yoga and the medical science. Nowadays the application of yoga as preventive and curative therapy is in much practice. The aim of yoga and of the medical science is to achieve the optimal physical health and mental peace through preventive, curative and formative measures. The doctors often say that prevention is always better than cure. Yoga does admit it - it says, "It's true, prevention is always better than cure." But yoga lays more stress on the formative measures of health. Medical science does not lay so much emphasis upon the formative measures, just as yoga does. All the measures you can have by the practice of asanas and pranayama. That is why asanas and pranayama are given so much importance because yoga lays stress on the formative, preventive and curative measures. The scientific evidence gained by experiments both in India and abroad demonstrates that the yogic KRIYAS (asanas, pranayama) result in the improvement of the functioning of different systems in the body. There are different systems in the body - the nervous system, the circulatory system, respiratory system, cardio-vascular system, gastro-intestinal system. These are different systems in the human body. Yogic kriyas or yogic exercises exert their influence upon all the different systems in the human body. The normal homeo condition of the body is maintained more by the yogic exercises than by drugs. Therefore, do not become slaves to the drugs. In emergency you can take drugs but what happens, the patient gradually becomes a slave and that is not good. By yogic exercises you can improve the work of all the systems in the body, gradually. You can do some asanas, a little pranayama and then meditation. All these we call yogic kriyas or yogic exercises. They exert their influence upon all the systems in the human body.
Question: During 1990 Yoga conference held here in Tapovan, one of our Shiva-yoga practicants had a wonderful experience. He saw you surrounded by an enormous luminous Linga. What sort of aura was that?
Shri Swamiji: Yes, it is aura and it is the Divine Aura. It means for a long time I've experienced and practised Shiva-yoga so the influence of that is reflected in the form of the aura which surrounds my body. But it needs a sensitive eye, that means a clairvoyant eye. They alone can see it, not all. That is true. It is possible to you also, if you practise Shiva-yoga for a long period.
Question: When a man dies, what happens to his etheric body?
Shri Swamiji: The soul never dies because the soul is immortal. Of course, the soul leaves this body. Surrounding this body is the etheric body. When the physical body is dead, the etheric body which surrounds the body remains for 10 days. That is why in India there's a custom to observe some rituals for 10 days. In the case of ordinary human beings, after 10 days the etheric body is dissolved. Then it goes into the astral body and the soul begins to roam and it goes to the next life. This is eschatology. Eschatology is the science which deals with life after death. Then the soul roams here and there, seeking to find its next parents through whom it is to be born. Then it takes birth. In some exceptional cases the etheric body remains constant. You see, the great Adepts live in this etheric body and they can materialize and dematerialize in their physical body. The great adepts live in Jnana Ganja Ashram. If you remember them and if you meditate upon them, they appear before you. How? They materialize their bodies. They make their physical bodies appear before you and they talk to you. Then they disappear and they remain in their etheric body. Allam Prabhu, the great Virashaiva mystic, lives in his etheric body. It was used as physical body but if you want to touch it, you cannot touch. The characteristic difference between the two is: the physical body casts a shadow, it leaves footprints. Allam Prabhu, though he was in physical body, it could never cast any shadow, it could never leave footprints. He is in the etheric body. It is known as VYOMA KAYA. This is PARTHIVA, physical body, PARTHIVA SHARIRA (from prthvi comes parthiva) Vyomakaya is the etheric body.
Question: Is it allowed for us to call some adept during our meditation?
Shri Swamiji: Yes, it's just possible and it is quite easy also. The only thing is, meditation should be concentrated. The mind should not be restless, it should be calm. Your meditation should be steady. There's one condition - if you want to see an Adept, or call him, try to meditate and he appears. They are known as INVISIBLE HELPERS. Sometimes they do not appear before you but they stand behind you and help you. You are sadhakas, you are attending the spiritual path and if you need any help from the adepts, go on meditating and they will come. Sometimes they become visible, sometimes they remain invisible. Even if they remain invisible, they help you. They help your spiritual progress. Sometimes they become visible, you can see them, talk to them. And if there are any obstacles or if there are any opportunities which are not helpful to you, they try to remove them. They can do this through a visible form. Or even if they remain invisible, they can help. Nada, Bindu, Kala - through these they appear. Nada means sound. Sometimes you hear some very sweet sound. Through that sound they appear. Then Bindu - you see Bindu in Ishtalinga. In the form of light they appear. And Kala, that is nothing but their physical body which is not physical but etheric. They sometimes come before you. They appear before you in their etheric body, vyomakaya.
Question: How can a yogi keep that etheric body, and for how long will this etheric body remain?
Shri Swamiji: It all depends on the fitness of the adept. In Jnana Ganja Ashram there are adepts who live in this physical body from 600 to 1500 years. They have immortalized their physical body. The soul is already immortal. But they say - try to make this physical body immortal! And how is it possible for us? Shri Aurobindo himself admitted it, that it was possible to make this physical body immortal. And he says, "Educate the will first, through will educate the jnanam (knowledge). Through the jnanam purify the Chitta (heart), control the prana and calm the manas (mind). Through all these instruments immortalize the body. Vedanta starts with buddhi, Tantra starts with shakti."
CHAKRAS
Tapovan, 21st February 1994
Chakras have their colours and these colours follow the pattern of the rainbow. The colours of the rainbow are known as VIBGYOR. That means the rainbow consists of seven colours: violet, indigo, blue, green, yellow, orange and red. It is known as VIBGYOR, the short term for the seven colours. Muladhara chakra is red, Swadisthana is orange, Manipuraka chakra is yellow, Anahata chakra is green, Vishuddhi is blue, the chakra which resides in the centre between the eyebrows or Bhrumadhy (Ajna) is indigo and Sahasrara is violet. The rainbow is the most significant symbol of the world because it represents the whole Universe. In the Bible Christ has said: "I do set my bow in the clouds for it is the token of the covenant between God and the Earth." "Bow" means the rainbow. That is why the rainbow which you often see on a cloud is so important. It is significant in the sense that it represents the whole Universe. Now the question arises: why does the rainbow consist of seven colours, seven cosmic colours or seven rays? Why do we speak of seven colours or seven rays when there are innumerable rays in the Universe? You know ultraviolet and infrared? For us only the seven colours are visible and they are visible to us through the spectrum. But there are innumerable colours. Kurma-purana says that there are innumerable colours. From violet to red these colours are visible. But even above violet there's ultraviolet. Infrared is below red. Science has recognized that there are innumerable rays which compose the body of God, but only seven rays have been singled out. Since only seven colours are visible, sometimes they are known as tangible (tangible-intangible, visible-invisible). Not only that. These seven colours are the matrix of the seven planets.
Just as each chakra has its own colour, similarly each chakra has its own number of petals.
In Muladhara there are 4 petals.
In Swadisthana there are 6 petals.
In Manipuraka there are 10 petals.
In Anahata there are 12 petals.
In Vishuddhi there are 16 petals.
In Bhrumadhya or Ajna there are 2 petals. 2 means 48 on one side and 48 on the other side, so it amounts to 96. We see only 2 petals but really speaking 48 plus 48 gives 96.
Then, when we come to Sahasrara it becomes 960. Again in Sahasrara there's one chakra which contains 12 petals. So, 960 plus 12 gives 972. That is what is known as Sahasrara - about 1000 petals. In the centre of Sahasrara there are 12 petals. They are violet in colour.
What is the meaning of petals? When we say that Adhara chakra has 4 petals, what does it mean? Just as the lotus flower has its petals, similarly, each chakra is conceived as a flower, lotus flower. Just as the lotus flower has its petals, so each chakra has its own petals, too. What do we mean by petals here? Petals are nothing but VIBRATIONS! The lowermost chakra is Adhara. It has only four petals, it means only four vibrations. It is very slow. When we come to Swadisthana, the number of petals is 6, and 6 vibrations. Manipuraka chakra 10 petals or 10 vibrations. Anahata 12, Vishuddhi 16, Agneya 96. Sahasrara vibrates with vertiginous rapidity (speed). 972 is the exact number of petals, i.e. vibrations but let us say 1000. That means it has a very great number of vibrations. That is why, says yoga, the pineal gland is the seat of cosmic thought. Similarly, there's an organ for thought because man is a thinking being. Man is a rational being. Thoughts have great power but only when your thoughts are one-pointed, definite and persistent, they become powerful. Pineal gland is an organ for thought. Now the pineal gland is very slow and our thoughts are fleeting, indefinite, they have no power. When through Shiva-yoga, through intense practice the pineal gland begins to vibrate, then it releases light and you can see the light also. One more thing is this, since the pineal gland begins to vibrate with vertiginous rapidity, with rapid speed, what happens? Thought power rises to N-th degree and cosmic intelligence begins to function. It is possible through Shiva-yoga.
THE CHART OF CHAKRAS
Each chakra has its colour and petals. Petal means vibration. Each chakra has its own planet. The planet itself is a presiding deity. In some yogic books chakras are given symbols, but they are all imaginary. The real cosmic truth is that each chakra has its own planet as a presiding deity. First is Sun, then Moon, Mars, Mercury, Jupiter, Venus Saturn or in Sanskrit Surya, Chandra, Mangala, Budha, Guru, Shukra, Sheni. Each chakra has its own fragrance, this is true. There are seven flowers also but it is difficult to name the flowers and the fragrance because there are so many differences.
CHAKRA COLOUR PETALS PLANET SANSKRIT
MULADHARA RED 4 SUN SURYA
SWADISTHANA ORANGE 6 MOON CHANDRA
MANIPURAKA YELLOW 10 MARS MANGALA
ANAHATA GREEN 12 MERCURY BUDHA
VISHUDDHI BLUE 16 JUPITER GURU
AGNEYA INDIGO 2x48+96 VENUS SHUKRA
SAHASRARA VIOLET 96x10=960 SATURN SHENI
960+12=972
There may also be other symbols (Ganapati or lion, serpent etc.) but they are all imaginary. This is universal. The planets are universal. The first chakra - Muladhara, the presiding deity is the Sun, the colour is red. So, it is said that Surya or Sun is nothing but red colour concentrate. According to Yoga-shastra - Surya is nothing but red colour concentrate. Then the second - Swadisthana, its presiding deity is the Moon. The Moon is the orange colour concentrate. Then the third - Manipuraka chakra, the presiding deity is Mars, yellow in colour, yellow colour concentrate. Anahata, the presiding deity is Budha, green colour concentrate. Vishuddhi chakra, the presiding deity is Jupiter or Guru, blue colour concentrate. Agneya chakra, the presiding deity or planet is Venus or Shukra, indigo colour concentrate. Sahasrara chakra, the presiding deity or planet is Saturn or Sheni, violet colour concentrate.
Question: Sometimes during practice different fragrances occur.
Shri Swamiji: That is quite correct. Sometimes you smell lotus, sometimes jasmine, sometimes the scent of a rose, sometimes it may be of the marigold. These are flowers and each flower has its own fragrance you can enjoy. One kind of flower is grown in Tibet. Gandha Babaji used to show it on a handkerchief. It had a smell but we can not tell if it is the smell of any flower. Gandha Babaji said it was a flower which grows in Tibet, it is not in India. It all depends on the practice of Shiva-yoga. You can see colours, you can feel the fragrance, it happens.
Question: What does it mean when we see white colour while practising Shiva-yoga?
Shri Swamiji: In the heart of white dwell all the seven colours of the rainbow. When a single ray of white colour is passed through the prism, it bifurcates into seven colours. That is why it is said that in the heart of white dwell all the seven colours of the rainbow. White is pure. When all the seven colours are absorbed in one, it becomes white.
Question: What about the black colour?
Shri Swamiji: White and black - these are the main two. The white is bifurcated into seven colours. Black stands opposite to white. White is pure consciousness, it represents Vidya-shakti, the highest spiritual power. Black stands opposite to white. Black is avidya, maya, ignorance or illusion. Avidya stands against knowledge. Black stands for avidya, white stands for vidya. In between come the seven colours. White is the highest, black is the lowest and in between are those seven colours.
Question: Which chakras are open in an average person? Do all the chakras open?
Shri Swamiji: Through practice it is possible. Of course, every human being has chakras. Every human body contains the etheric body and in the etheric body there are chakras but they are dormant. We have to activate them through the practice of yoga. Sometimes those who have taken to hatha-yoga, what they do, they practise asanas, pranayama, bandha, mudra. Unless you practise yoga, these chakras cannot be awakened. In every human body there's the pineal gland. It has to be activated. They are all dormant. In order to activate them, practice is needed.