According to Yoga sashtras our being has five components or kosha (sheaths) which surround the Jivatma (the individual soul).
The physical body has two parts : (Annammaya Kosha & Pranamaya Kosha):
1. Annamaya Kosa (The physical layer):
Everything in the universe is made of “Anna” (matter), everything comes out of Anna, everything is sustained by Anna and everything dissolves into Anna. This matter (Anna) is based aspect of our physical personality is called Annamaya Kosa. It consists of five elements namely the earth, water, fire, wind and space. This is the most gross physical sheath and is sustained by food that we consume. This is the first sheath outer to the soul.
Practice: Loosening & strengthening of joints, Asanas, kriyas, diet. To remove the physical symptoms of the ailments a healthy yogic diet, Kriyas (internal body cleansing exercises), loosening exercises and Yogasanas are used to operate at the Annamaya Kosa level.
2. Pranamaya Kosa (The layer of Prana):
It is the Prana – the life energy force, from which even the gross Annamaya Kosa comes out. The vital energy sheath is the 2nd sheath, also called the bio-energy body by scientists. It provides a subtle framework that organizes the physical body and supplies energy for the movement and metabolism of parts. This is the sheath which is sustained by or composed mainly of prana (the vital energy) and only a limited prana comes from the gross body directly.
This sheath depends only partially on food can be observed, when the body is deprived of food for seven days. The prana then will not completely go even because there is some vitality remains, although without food it tends to gradually lose its course and power. Although the energy withers away and there is decay, never-the-less the body is sustained.
In the Pranayama Kosha it also can be seen that the power of prana depends partially on the cosmic energy, that has been converted for use in the body functions through food.
The body may be there but without life or Prana it is gross, useless. A uniform harmonious flow of Prana to each and every cell of the annamaya kosa deeps them alive and healthy. Prana has the capacity to move into different areas of the body depending on demand. For e.g., when you perform more brain work you need more prana in the head region, when you walk you need more prana in the lower limbs, etc. If the prana flow to any organ increases inadvertently and without control, it can lead to dysfunction of that organ at the annamaya kosa.
Practice: Kriyas, breathing, pranayama. Prana is the basic life principle. Pranayama is a process for gaining control over Prana. Through the practice of proper breathing, Kriyas and Pranayama, we start operating on the Pranayama Kosa. Suitable types of Pranayama and breathing help to remove the random agitations in Pranic flows in the Pranayama kosa. Thus, the ailments are handled at this Pranayama kosa level.
The mind, also called the astral body has two parts (Manomaya Kosha & Vijnanamaya Kosha):
3. Manomaya Kosa (the lower mind sheath):
The third sheath is much more subtle than the physical body. It is concerned with intellectual and rational body. This is the body of soul that is made of mind only.
This is the aspect of one’s personality wherein the mind carries on its different functions such as perception (Manah), memory (Citta) and ego (Ahamkara). Mind, which is defined as a conglomeration of thoughts responds to the input through sense organs. For example, you see a big red flower, eyes send the image to the brain and the mind (manah) perceives it as a beautiful rose. Within the next fraction of a second your memory (citta) deciphers that it as a very rare variety or rose which you wanted to see badly. The thought circulates in mind and citta which soon goes on to make you feel “Oh, it is so beautiful, I like it, I love it, I want it”. This component of the manomaya kosa in which this rapid recycling takes place and gathers momentum is called the “Emotions” (Bhavana). This is characterized by feelings such as “likes or dislikes”, “loves or hate“, backed by the heavy ‘I’ (the ego). It is this emotion that is the root cause of all human joy and distress.
Practice: Dhyana, Bhakti and devotional songs. The culturing of mind is accomplished by focusing of the mind (Dharna) initially, followed by relaxed dwelling of the mind in a single thought (Dhyana) for long and longer durations leading ultimately to super-consciousness (Samadhi). A progressive habituation allows the mind to remain relaxed during the period of meditation.
Emotion culture: To handle and gain control over the basic cause for mental agitations, we use the Yoga techniques that control our emotions – a devotional session containing Prayers, chants, bhajans etc.
4. Vijnanamaya Kosa (the higher mind sheath-The layer of wisdom):
The fourth sheath is still more subtle. This is the body of the soul i.e. composed of the knowledge of the soul itself i.e. supreme consciousness. It is concern with the intuition, inspirational and creative thought and action and it contacts the spiritual realms.
In the vijnanamaya kosha there is consciousness both of the external world and of its divine aspects.
It is all the Vijnana (knowledge) from which the entire creation has happened and that could be the final reality. We all have two minds. For e.g., when the manomaya kosa said that “It is a beautiful rose, I want to have it” and you started instructing your hands to pick up the flower, the inner mind said “sorry, you cannot pluck that flower; it does not belong to you; and you stopped the action. This conscience within that continuously guides us to do a thing or not to do a thing is the Vijnanamaya kosa. It is this component of the mind that has developed in human race greatly that differentiates man from animals.
Practice: Jnana, lecture and yogic counseling etc. A basic understanding is the key to operate from Vijnanamaya Kosa. Upanishads are the treasury of such knowledge which is the redeemer of all miseries and obsessions. It is the lack of that inner Jnana which is responsible for many wrong habits, agitations, etc. The Happiness Analysis – handles the most fundamental problem. Knowledge burns the strong attachments, obsessions, likes and dislikes which are the basic reasons for the agitations of mind.
5. Annandamaya Kosa (The layer of bliss):
The fifth sheath that feels blissful joy only. It is still more subtle. This is a body of light.
This is the most subtle aspect of our existence which is devoid of any form of emotions; a state of total silence – a state of complete harmony, and perfect health. While in Manomaya kosa the creative power predominates, in Vijnanamaya kosa it is the power to discern and discriminate. Bliss is embodied in Anandamaya kosa, the highest stage of evolution in the manifested existence.
Practice: Working in blissful awareness. To bring the bliss of our causal body called Anandamaya kosa in all our actions is the key for a very happy and healthy life. Normally we get upset, or excited over things which we do not like or we like. The next step is to have a deep silence and a blissful awareness in the inner subtler layers of our mind while we are in action. Retain a smiling relaxed face during all the yoga practices. |
