101-4 Reflection notes - Prana and the Etheric Body

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.

101-3 Reflection notes - The Etheric Body

What is sublimation, and the stages of sublimation?

Sublimation is the purifying and refining process of the etheric body, which is essential for higher contact. There are 4 stages of sublimation.

The 1st stage of sublimation: the inflow of the Intuitional Light (the 4th Cosmic Ether) into the 4th lower etheric level (the chemical ether). The chemical ether is very sensitive to colors, which often change into sounds in the inner ear. When this stage happens to a higher degree - a higher percentage of intuitional substance penetrates and increases in the 4th etheric level, we will hear the colors, see the sounds, also we hear the thoughts of other people. Colors is allied to the 4th ether.

The 2nd stage of sublimation: the inflow of the 3rd Cosmic Ether (on the Atmic Plane) into the 3rd lower etheric level (the life ether). As this life ether is connected to the generative organs and seminal fluids, this ether helps us to propagate. The life ether is also the conductor of sound and is closely related to the eyes and vision. Sound functions through the 3rd ether. The result of this 2nd stage is that we develop higher clairvoyance.

The 3rd stage of sublimation: the inflow of the 2nd Cosmic Ether (on the Monadic Plane) into the 2nd lower etheric level (the light ether). Light closely connects with and uses the 2nd ether as a medium. The electricity of this light ether supplies heat to the body. This light ether is closely related to the nervous system and the muscles, and connecting the physical body and the outside world. The result of this 3rd stage is that we develop divine vision and healing powers.

The 4th stage of sublimation: the inflow of the 1st Cosmic Ether (on the Adi or Divine Plane) into the 1st lower etheric level (the reflecting ether). The electricity passing through this ether enables the soul to control its vehicles by thoughts. This ether can store memories. The result of this 4th stage is that we develop the power of pure Intuition and the memory of past lives.

How is continuity of consciousness achieved?

Continuity of consciousness is achieved on all planes when the 4 Higher (Cosmic) Etheric and the 4 lower etheric layers are blended within each other, and the Higher Etheric Ethers (particles of electrical Fire) replace the lower etheric ethers. Thus, the lower etheric body is the continuation of the Cosmic Ethers. Through continuity of consciousness, man becomes aware of the activities of various Ashrams existing on the Intuitional and higher Planes, in the Hierarchy and in Shamballa. 

When the etheric body is built with the Higher Ethers, there would be no sickness or disorder as the person radiates healing energies, light, love, peace, serenity, and purifying and uplifting powers into his environment.

How is the refinement of the etheric body carried out?

The refinement of the etheric body is carried out through meditation, lofty aspiration, right diet, sunshine, fresh air, exercise, striving toward perfection, the influence of the 7th ray, right relations with others as well as with Nature, closer relationship with higher devas and angels.

Meditation: As we meditate, we calm and align our etheric body to become a more receptive and effective instrument that the higher ethers can flow with fewer obstacles and hindrances.

Lofty aspiration: such as unifying with Divine, sacrifice and service aspiration are upward-moving flows of aspiring energy. Thus, lofty aspiration facilitates the contact of the Higher Ethers and these Cosmic Ethers are called to respond and pour down to the lower etheric layers.

Right diet: All the food we eat have their own vibrations which is essential for constituting our etheric-physical body. We should eat high-vibration food such as fresh, organic vegetables, and avoid low-vibration food such as meat, industrial, processed food to maintain high vibrations for our etheric-physical body.

Sunshine, fresh air, exercise: these help circulate the prana or living energy throughout the body, revitalizing and dispelling the stagnant or blockages in our energy system.

Striving toward perfection is the refining and purifying all of the lower bodies so that they become purer and the true reflection of the Higher Archetype. This process should take place in all of our 3 lower bodies, in which the physical-etheric body is one of them.

The influence of the 7th ray: The 7th ray is the ray of synthesis, unifying the low and the high, manifesting the higher spiritual ideals onto the lower matter plane. The cycle of the 7th ray is active now, coincident with the incoming Aquarian Age, with the influence of Uranus as the Aquarian ruler, also transmitting the 7th ray. Thus, these astrological and ray cycles will help in facilitating the refinement process on Earth, through spiritualizing the physical plane, bringing and creating heaven on Earth.

Right relations with others as well as with Nature: the right relation here is manifested through goodwill, love, care and sharing. When these virtues are shining among humanity, we would have peace on earth, and nature would be cared and protected. Thus the etheric body of humanity would be strengthened through peace and vitality of the environment and Nature.

A closer relationship with higher devas and angels: As higher devas and angels are higher builders of our higher bodies, the closer relationship with them help bring higher substances from higher cosmic etheric levels into our lower etheric layers, thus transforming and purifying them.

What are the 8 radiant signs of health?

The 8 radiant signs of Health in Nature are: 

Symmetry

Rhythm

Cycle

Harmony of lines, cycles and colors

Palpitation - the expanding and contracting vibrations regulated by the heart

Clear and living color of the vibration

Clear and harmonious sound of the subtle bodies

Sweet fragrance, the result of the vibration of the vehicles under the impact of higher ethers, can be detected through astral smell.

To a higher clairvoyant, these signs demonstrate on the person’s aura as colors, pulsation and currents of energy. 

101-2 Reflection notes - The Constitution of Man

 1. What are the seven levels and seven bodies?

Number 7 is a magic one. We see it as 7 colors of the rainbow, 7 rays of all manifestations and now we have 7 levels of consciousness corresponding to 7 planes of our solar systems, with each having its own 7 subplanes; and beyond that, we even have the 7 Cosmic Planes. The 7 planes are the physical-etheric, astral, mental, intuitional (buddhic), atmic, monadic, and logoic or divine planes.

“As above so below”, we see the analogy between man and the Cosmos, men are often seen as microcosmos. It was written in the Greek Delphi - “Know Thyself” as it was advised by Socrates and all great Teachers and Sages - “Know Thyself”. Therefore, as we learn about the constitution of Man, we also come to learn about the constitution of the Universe. Man is also constituted of that 7 layers of substances.

In his full potential, man is 7-fold or multidimensional. However, in order for man to truly and consciously active in each level - each plane, man has to have his vehicle functioning at that plane. So, as man evolves in his consciousness, he is building up his bodies for operating in the planes, higher and higher throughout the course of time. Thus, he becomes more and more inclusive and balanced.

At the present time, humanity mostly functions in the 3 lower planes of physical, astral and mental, which are often called the three worlds or the three planes of human endeavors. The evolutionary goal of the Aryan root-race is developing the mental body. And the goal for the next 6th root-race is developing the intuitional body.

2. What are the names of the fires: in the Etheric body, in the physical body, in the mental body, in the spiritual bodies? Describe the fusion of the fires.

The following table shows the energies/fires of the corresponding bodies in the human constitution:

Human health is conditioned by these major fires, through their right relations, circulation, and eventual fusion. There are 3 major fusions.

The 1st fusion is between the fire by friction (internal vitalizing fire and latent heat) of the physical body and the active heat (prana) of the etheric body. These 3 fires blend at a point between the shoulder blades, bringing health and happiness or well-being to man.

The 2nd fusion is between the fires of the physical-etheric body (the 1st fusion) and the fire of mind or solar fire. As a man meditates, studies contemplatively, and works creatively, his solar fire increases and pulls the fire focused between the shoulder blades up to the head. During this process, the Kundalini fire - the 3 currents of fire coming from the base of spine, mixed with the pranic fire, rising up to the throat chakra and contacting the fire of the mind (the fire of the mental triangle, composed of the throat chakra, the pineal gland and the pituitary body). As the fusion between the two fires (Kundalini fire and the fire of mind) starts in this manasic triangle, the alta major chakra substitutes the throat chakra. When this 2nd fusion takes place, the Kundalini fire rises naturally due to the expansion of consciousness, purifying all the etheric chakras along the spine, enabling the chakras to transmit energy to the glands and their corresponding organs, thus, bringing radiant health and vitality.

The 3rd fusion is between the solar fire (the mental fire), the second fusion and the fire of the spirit (the electric fire), taking place in the head chakra (above the head). This final fusion creates a great initiate, dedicated to serving the world and healing the suffering humanity.