The etheric body receives solar prana from the Sun (focused by the golden devas) and planetary prana from the earth (focused by the violet devas). Then it assimilates these two pranas, vitalizing all the cells of the physical body with them, as well as transmitting them to lesser devas and to the animal, vegetable, and mineral kingdoms.
We nourish the devas through our beneficial and sacrificial selfless thoughts, words, and actions. In their turns, the devas vitalize us with their magnetism, lifting us up to higher knowledge and wisdom, helping us communicating with our and others’ souls, warning and protecting us from dangers.
Through the constant absorbing, circulating, emanating and transmitting energies in and out, the etheric body creates an electromagnetic field around the physical body. This electromagnetic sphere works as a uniting field that integrates all the parts of the physical body. This electromagnetic field also acts as a medium for contact and communication to higher planes in the future of human development. It is because the 4 lower etheric levels are the lower reflection of the 4 higher ethers which are substances of the 4 higher Intuitional, Atmic, Monadic and Divine planes.
Until we are purified and having developed continuity in consciousness for safely and consciously entering into the astral and mental worlds, the etheric body acts as a protective barrier, preventing those fiery astral and mental forces from destroying our unready centers. It is because the electromagnetic sphere of the etheric body works as a buffer that could assimilate and step down the intense fiery forces of the astral and mental worlds so that the physical body can receive without being burned nor damaged.
Mentor's comment: This essay is a very good and clear explanation of how the etheric body works. It is one of the most important topics in the first year of study. Keep this very clear in your mind as you study more and more of the etheric body.
Question: I’m a little bit concern about the warning on practicing Hatha Yoga in this Chapter. I am practicing some basic yoga asanas such as salutation to the Sun and i find it quite helpful and safe. I’ve also seen that Hatha Yoga is quite popular and being taught in every yoga center in my city. I am not so sure about its dangers. So it would be great if you could explain a little bit about this issue. I just would like to hear your opinion about practicing yoga in those meditation and yoga centers nowaday, as many of them demonstrate the healing effects. Thank you very much!
Mentor's answer: The practice of Yoga is another topic that all students have to be cleared about. Torkom writes about these in Talks in Agni volume 1. It is very clear. If modern people practice the ancient yoga, they are endangering themselves to over cement their physical bodies with the etheric body. The intention of the ancient yoga was to solidify the connection as it was loose at that time.
Nowadays, no one teaches the real yoga. If you do the stretches and salutations, they are OK. However, when there is intentional emphasis on centers, the head and heart centers, one is over-stimulating these centers. In our modern life, we do not need to stimulate any centers, but allow them to function naturally and from natural growth and as a result of inner growth and physical balance.
Hatha yoga emphasizes center opening. This is not the right practice for modern students. The dangers involved are opening centers prematurely before the bodies are able to absorb extra energy; the mixing of centers before they are strong and ready; the tearing of the protective shields between the subtle bodies and then there is astral leakage.
All of these you will be studying in the lessons coming up.
Do exercise, stretch and walk and run and swim; these are better than yogas.
I have spoken to many, many confused and truly endangered people. Once they get into danger, they never listen.
I hope this helps.
