Principal Doctrines
Samadhi
samadhi
(Sanskrit: "standing
within one's Self; sameness; contemplation; union, wholeness; completion,
accomplishment.") which represents "super consciousness";
"complete absorption into the absolute", "Universal
Consciousness" — is the state of true yoga, in which the meditator and the
object of meditation are one. The separation of manas (mind) from the body, and its union
with the paramatma (Universal
Consciousness, Godhead); the complete “forgetting” of the “small self”
(Jivatman) and mergence with the unchanging “Higher Self” (paramatma). The
eighth of Patanjali’s Ashtanga Yoga
(“eight limbs of Yoga”).Samadhi is of two levels. The first is savikalpa samadhi ("enstasy with form or seed"), identification or oneness with the essence of an object. Its highest form is the realization of the primal substratum or pure consciousness, satchidananda. The second is nirvikalpa samadhi ("enstasy without form or seed"), identification with the Self, in which all modes of consciousness are transcended and Absolute Reality, Brahman, beyond time, form and space, is experienced. This brings in its aftermath a complete transformation of consciousness. In Classical Yoga, nirvikalpa samadhi is known as asamprajnata samadhi, "supraconscious enstasy" — samadhi, or beingness, without thought or cognition, prajna. Savikalpa samadhi is also called samprajnata samadhi, "conscious enstasy."
Description
When we succeed in becoming so absorbed in something that our mind becomes completely one with it, we are in a state of samadhi. Samadhi means "to bring together, to merge". In samadhi our personal identities completely disappear. At the moment of samadhi none of that exists anymore. We become one with the Divine Entity.During samadhi, we realize what it is to be an identity without differences, and how a liberated soul enjoys a pure awareness of this pure identity. The conscious mind drops back into that unconscious oblivion from which it first emerged. The final stage terminates at the instant the soul is freed. The absolute and eternal freedom of an isolated soul is beyond all stages and beyond all time and place. Once freed, it does not return to bondage.
The perfection of samadhi embraces and glorifies all aspects of the self by subjecting them to the light of understanding. The person capable of samadhi retains his/her individuality and person, but is free of the emotional attachment to it.
The doctrine of karma is actually the law of
harmony and equilibrium. It adjusts wisely, intelligently and equitably each
effect to its cause. But, it is also the law of opportunity, which allows an
individual to change his past for a better future.
Hindu sages have declared that the cosmic
energy is a manifestation of the Brahman
(Universal Spirit). The entire universe is a play between Brahman, or the cosmic consciousness,
and the cosmic energy. Brahman
has become all things and beings of the world. Thus we are all interconnected
in subtle ways.
When a person dies, his gross sukshma sharira (physical
body) is left behind and the soul with the subtle body (consisting of the mind,
intellect, sense organs, motor organs and vital energies) goes to a different
plane of existence. Such a plane of existence is called loka in Sanskrit.
Hindus believe that wisdom is not an exclusive
possession of any particular race or religion. Hindu Dharma allows an
individual to select a religious discipline in accordance with one's own
religious yearning and spiritual competence. Hindu
Dharma recommends the guidance of a guru (spiritually awakened master) for
attaining perfection in life.
Hindu sages declare that there is no one
religion that teaches an exclusive road to salvation. All genuine spiritual
paths are valid and all great religions are like the branches of a tree — the
tree of religion. This doctrine lays foundation for the Hindu ideal of
universal harmony.
loka
The division of lokas
Sometimes different “planes” or “realms” lokas are posited, which are corresponding “environments” for the different bodies: these are the bhûrloka (earth), bhuvarloka (the subtle planes or atmosphere), svarloka (the heavenly realm), maharloka, janarloka (these first five correspond to the panchakoshas — "five koshas"), and then there are the highest lokas, sometimes known as tapoloka, satyaloka, siddhaloka, and brahmaloka.Scriptures offer several cosmological perspectives, most importantly sapta urdhvaloka (seven upper worlds) and sapta adholoka (seven lower worlds), which correspond to the 14 chakras and make up the "world-egg of God," the universe, called Brahmanda.
Sapta Urdhvaloka — the seven upper worlds
The seven “upper worlds” are a more detailed breakdown of the “three worlds”. The second, third and fourth comprise the subtle plane. The highest three comprise the causal plane. From the perspective of the seven worlds, the Brahmaloka is of three levels: Janaloka, "creative plane" (vishuddha chakra); Tapoloka, "plane of austerity" (ajna chakra); and Satyaloka, "plane of reality" (sahasrara chakra).|
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Stulaloka (gross plane).
The material universe, the physical plane or earthly regions.
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1.
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Earth world.
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the world perceived through the five senses.
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antarloka (Inner or in-between world)
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sukshmaloka (subtle
plane). The mental and emotional sphere, occupied by angels, spirits and
devas (divine beings).
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2.
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Space between earth and the sun, inhabited by semi-divine
beings. The areal region, the atmosphere, the life-force.
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3.
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Region between the sun and polar star, the heaven of the god
Indra
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4.
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The abode of great sages and enlightened beings.
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brahmaloka (World of
Gods)
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Karanaloka (causal
plane). The spiritual universe of the Mahadevas, ‘great radiant entities,’
the gods and highly evolved souls
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5.
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creative plane
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Abode of the sons of God Brahma.
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6.
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plane of austerity
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Abode of tapas
or of other deities
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7.
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plane of reality
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Sapta Adholoka — the seven lower worlds
Collectively known as Naraka or Patala, are (from highest to lowest) Put, Avichi, Samhata, Tamisra, Rijisha, Kudmala and Kakola.Planes of Existence
From the Saiva Agamic perspective of the 36 tattvas, the pure sphere, shuddha maya — the first five tattvas — is subdivided into 33 planes of existence. The "pure-impure" realm, shuddhashuddha maya — the seven tattvas from maya tattva to purusha — contains 27 planes of existence. The ashuddha ("impure") realm — of 24 tattvas — has 56 planes of existence
sukshma sharira
sukshma sharira (Sanskrit:
sukshma,
"subtle, unmanifest, dormant") — is the energy body, the subtle body,
the light body of form consists of manas
(mind), buddhi (intelligence) and ahankara (ego). The atma (the Self) functions in the sukshmaloka (astral plane), the inner
world also called antarloka.
The suksmah sharira includes pranamaya-kosha (the
pranic sheath), manomaya-kosha
(the instinctive-intellectual sheath), and vijnanamaya-kosha (the
cognitive sheath) kosha) — with the pranic sheath dropping off at the death of
the sthula-sharira (physical
body). The subtle body is the vehicle of consciousness with which one passes
from life to life and to accompany us even after the death of the physical
body. See: kosha, atma.
Om Tat Sat
(Continued...)
(My humble salutations to
Veda wicki dot and Philosophers, Historians for the collection)
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