What are the koshas ( sheaths ) ( layers ), as per Eastern Philosophy?

What are the koshas ( sheaths ) ( layers ), as per Eastern Philosophy?What are the koshas ( sheaths ) ( layers ), as per Eastern Philosophy?
Answer
admin Staff answered 1 year ago

Five sheaths.
We exist in 5 sheaths ( layers ) – and we don’t even know it or care to know it.

The reason is –

Our life is so fast, full of continuous interactions with Sansar, that we never have a chance to analyze ourselves.

Our whole life goes into knowing the Sansar, and we never know ourselves.

Meditating on these sheaths is a very effective tool to reach the core of it all – the consciousness.

  1. Annamaya kosha ( food sheath  ) ( our body ) – it is sustained by food and becomes food for others when it becomes dysfunctional. ( In reality, billions of microorganisms find their sustenance on our skin and inside our guts – even when we are alive ).
  2. Pranayama Kosh – Prana, energy sheath – mobilizes the body. This sheath is sustained by Prana ( energy ) derived from various sources – food, water, and air, and is responsible for sustaining vital functions ( physiology ) of the body like digestion, circulation, respiration, etc.
  3. Manomay Kosh – mind – a storehouse of our thoughts. It is sustained by our interactions with the world ( Sansar ) – experiences, interpret them, and then act in the world accordingly. ( Intelligence ).
  4. Vigyanmay Kosh – wisdom – directs the mind, and gives it a proper direction to go in, by its ability to observe the whole life remotely and make decisions based on intellect. It is a bridge between the lower sheaths and the final sheath of bliss.
  5. Anandmay Kosh – bliss sheath – innermost. Its fuel is consciousness, it is consciousness.

By silently and steadily meditating on this, one can reach the bliss sheath.
What is the difference between the first four sheaths and the final – the fifth sheath? 

The answer is – dependence Vs. independence.

If you analyze each sheath, you will realize that –

Annamaya Kosh – ( food sheath ) – is dependent on food.

Pranayama Kosh – ( energy sheath )-‘dependent on ( Prana ) energy obtained from food, air, and sunlight.

Manomay Kosh – ( mind ) – dependent on Sansar. It always thinks of Sansar – objects, people, situations.

Vigyanmay Kosh ( intellect ) – ( Wisdom sheath ) – is higher than the lower mind but still operates in Sansar.

Anandmay Kosh – bliss sheath. ( Soul ) – independent. Even if the mind and the body perish, it isn’t affected.

It lights up the other four sheaths, but it is its light. Sansar is interdependence.

As you are, you cannot live without the other (objects, people, or situations ).

Our first four sheaths were designed for Sansar and are part of Sansar.

The one that is aware of these four sheaths is the 5th sheath.

There is no way to transcend Sansar holding onto these four sheaths ( Ego ).

How can a fish transcend the ocean because the ocean is its life?
Same way, For Ego, Sansar is that big ocean.

Ego is that fish that lives and swims in the ocean of Sansar.

The only way is to stand apart ( meditation ), create a new dimension for yourself, and realize the prison created by Ego ( Sansar ) for itself.

Then transcendence happens, and freedom happens ( which was always there ).

The First 4 sheaths are for DOING something in Sansar ( doing something to get something, of course ).

Bliss sheath is a NON-DOING sheath.

Nothing is done at this sheath level because nothing is expected out of life because whatever life has given so far, is a lot more than asked for; there is a Bhav of gratitude.

First 4 sheaths run after something RELATIVE.

( something that requires comparison with something else – dvait, duality. )

– Eg, rich is rich only if compared to poor, tall is tall only when compared to short, smart is smart only if compared to dumb, etc.).

The 5th sheath is ABSOLUTE.

It cannot be compared with anything. It is unique, non dual – Advait.

Just the way the Sun and the rest of the solar system are.

The solar system is dependent on the Sun for light, energy, gravity, etc., but Sun is Sun by itself, it has its own light, and it is its own energy source.

The First four sheaths combined make you a planet – good or bad, big or small, fast or slow, blue or red.

The fifth sheath makes you the Sun.

BE THE SUN – we are born to be THE SUN.

The Sun does not desire anything; what can planets give to the Sun?

Sun is without desires; it only does GIVING, and giving it does – in troves, continuously, without any discrimination, and it does it by burning itself.
So, the fifth sheath is the sheath of Godliness.

 

In the bliss sheath, you BECOME the consciousness. Man becomes God.

 

That’s when you can proclaim – Aham Brahmasmi” – ” I am Brahma.”