Sahasra's Hope

Category: Tranformation

  • The 5 Koshas

    The Koshas are five psychic sheaths that make up our subtle body

    We have 5 sheaths or layers that make up our bodies, though they cannot be separated.

    In traditional systems, the Koshas and Chakras are separate concepts, but in the modern systems, the interelationship is explored.

    The universe is created from 5 elements in this order: ethereal space or ether, air, fire, water, and earth

    we have 5 senses, hearing, touch, sight, taste and smell and 5 organs of sense: ears, skin, eyes, tongue and nose that correspond to the 5 elements and 5 Koshas

    All phenomenon arises from a combination of the 5 elements. When phenomenon is percieved by our 5 organs of sense it is translated into sense perceptions and the immpressions are taken to our mind where they are evaluated.

    akasha (ether)ears, sound

    vayu (air)touch, skin, 

    agni  (fire)eyes sight, 

    ap (water)tongue, taste, and 

    prithvi (earth), smell, nose. Annamaya kosha, The Earth element is the foundation of the body, the bones, flesh, skin and body hair. The seed sylable of the Earth Element is LAM, Prononced LANG The mantra LANG is focused in the base root chakra

    1. Annamaya Kosha: The Physical Body

    • 1st Chakra, 2nd chakra
    • Root Chakra, Sacral chakra
    • Earth element, water element
    • Sense of smell, sense of taste
    • Sense organ Nose, sense organ Tongue
    • Bija mantra LAM, VAM
    • Bija sound LANG, VANG
    • Food, Water
    • The outermost layer is the physical body (organs, bones, muscle tissue, and skin), known as the annamaya kosha in yoga. Anna means “food” or “physical matter” and maya means “made of.” We are the most familiar with our annamaya kosha—the experience of our physical body in yoga. Most people live in this layer of existence, mostly concerned with the survival of their body.

    2. Pranamaya Kosha: The Energy Body (breath)

    • 4th Chakra
    • Heart Chakra
    • Air element
    • sense of touch
    • sense organ skin
    • Bija mantra YAM
    • Bija sound YANG
    • Breath

    Sheathed by the physical layer, the energetic body is called the pranamaya kosha and is composed of the body’s subtle life-force energy prana.

    The element associated with Pranamaya is air. Vayu is the term for air or wind, it is the vital life-giving force (prana). It aids the functions of the lungs and heart, circulating fresh oxygen and vital energy. Air is formless and colourless, without smell or taste.

    Prana is closely related to the breath—you receive prana upon the air you breathe. Pranayama exercises, increase and regulate prana in the body.

    The Pranamaya kosha is the sphere of our life energies. It is the bridge between the other sheaths, between our physical body – annamaya kosha, the 5 senses and the mind – manomaya kosha.

    3. Manomaya Kosha: The Mental Body (impressions)

    The third layer corresponds to your mind, emotions, and nervous system—expressed as streams of thoughts, feelings, and sensations, and is known as the manomaya kosha, from manas, which means “mind” or “thought processes.” Thought waves determine what we think and what we think decides what we do, who we are, and what we become.

    All senses feed the mind to create our thought perceptions. These thought perceptions are coloured by our mind through past experiences.

    Many of us have an overactive manomaya kosha that wears on our nervous system and plays out through our emotions. Yoga helps calm our minds and soothe our nervous systems, allowing you to recover from the effects of stress and fatigue on your third body. Your mental body is also where we experience the five senses.

    Yoga and Pranyama help to quiet the mind, emotions and nervous system to better be able to connect with Vijnanamaya Kosha

    4. Vijnanamaya Kosha: Wisdom Body (ideas)

    Vijnanamay Kosha is the bridge between the mind and deeper understanding. It lies between Manomaya Kosha – the constant stream of thoughts, feelings, and sensations (the processing, thinking, and reactive mind), and Anandamaya kosha, the Bliss sheath .

    It is the source of an inner knowing, higher intelligence, wisdom, intuition, conscience and deeper insights into the nature of who we are and how we relate to the world around us. Here, we develop a more profound connection to oneself and the ability to see reality with clarity. 

    The term Vijnana or Knowledge is used to distinguish correct knowledge.

    Vidya. is made of two further layers of knowledge:-
    Para Vidya: Knowledge correct reality, which is eternal and
    Apara Vidya: Knowledge gained through the experience of the senses

    Vihnanamaya kosha is connected to Buddhi. It collects the information provided to it from manomaya kosha and sorts it into shapes, forms and ideas. These thoughts are coloured by samskaras and so do not provide a true and clear perception of reality. It can perceive that things are separate to create an ordered world for the body to move around in, but it can also fail to perceive interconnectedness of all things.

    Awareness: Vijnanamaya Kosha enhances awareness, allowing individuals to be more present and mindful of their thoughts and actions. 

    Detachment and Clarity: By awakening this kosha, individuals can develop detachment from the ego and a sense of self, leading to greater clarity and inner reflection. 
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    Yoga helps quiet the mental body so that our wisdom body can be heard and begin to guide us. A simple way to start working with your wisdom body is to notice sensations and changes taking place internally throughout your practice.

    5. Anandamaya kosha: Bliss Body(experiences)

    The deepest layer of our being is the core of our existence, known as the anandamaya kosha, from Ananda, which means “bliss.” Often referred to as your highest self or spirit, your bliss body is where you experience the unbounded freedom, expanse, and joyousness of your true nature. There’s a sense of peace and connectedness during which time ceases to exist, and your consciousness expands beyond the limits of your body.

    We can use yoga to bring the 5 koshas, body, breath, mind, wisdom, and spirit into harmony

  • Kleshas

    Klesha is a Sanskrit word that means impurity or poison. Kleshas are obstacles to attaining enlightenment and the root causes of suffering. These poisons will prevent you from attaining union with Universal Consciousness.

    Patanjali lists 5 Kleshas in the yoga sutras: Ignorance, ego, attachment, aversion and fear.

    1. Avidya or ignorance of the truth of reality.

    2. Asmita or ego, “I-am-ness” or the identification of ourselves as our ego.

    3. Raga or attachment, wanting to hold onto what we like.

    4. Dvesha or Aversion to what we don’t like.

    5. Abhinivesha or fear. Fear of the unknown, fear of death, fear of change.

    Avidya is Ignorance: “The failure to see or know”.  Avidya is the process of veiling or forgetting our divine nature and our connection with the universe. Avidya is believing in the illusion of Maya, believing that what is impermanent is permanent. If you believe that you are separate from what is around you, you are living in avidya. It is the state of being unaware of the true nature of reality, oneself, and the universe.

    To remove the veil of ignorance you have to cultivate Vidya.

    Vidya is awareness: Vidya is waking up to see things the way they truly are.

    Being in touch with your divine self or your spirit, is the way to experience the truth. Your Inner-self cannot be touched or seen by the 5 senses.

    Everything is connected because everything comes from one source. The universe is a manifestation of divine energy. We are all part of the divine creation. So are all the animals, the rocks, water, earth, fire, air. We are all made from the same matter, recycled over and over again for billions of years.

    Your divine self has never been separate from its divine nature. You have always been part of the Oneness of Creation. We use yoga to find our way back to connecting with this essence.

    Our reality when living in ignorance is a construct of our mind as fed to us through our 5 senses. Avidya is mistaking impermanence for permanent, the world looks solid, but even the Great Pyramids and Uluru are slowly eroding.

    You have to go beyond the 5 senses to find your true spiritual self and reach Samadhi

    Witnessing everything with the view that it is constantly renewing, makes everything appear fresh and rejuvenated.

    Vidya is knowing the truth through spiritual realization beyond the mind and the senses.

    Everything is a manifestation of the power that drives the universe. Everything is connected through the divine energy within us.

    Asmita is the ego. Our ego and senses encourage us to form a perception that we live in a reality that is solid or permanent. It constructs a persona that is separate from everything else.

    This is duality. The ego thinks “I am one and unique. Everything else is not me, it is separate from me.” The truth is that nothing can exist separately. Everything contains and is part of the Universal Oneness.

    Ego is an entity of ourselves that gets labelled with all our emotions and insecurities. When you believe that you are your thoughts and emotions you are living in a false reality. You are not living to your full potential.

    You can move beyond the constructs of ego to delve more deeply into what motivates you. We can learn to transform negative emotions and beliefs by activating and replacing them with positive thoughts and emotions. This will lead to a more positive life and a clearer mind.

    Avidya and Asmita – Ignorance and ego create Raga and Dvesha – Attachment and Aversion: “This is nice, I want it!” and “This is not nice, I do not want it!”

    Raga is Attachment or Desire. It is attachment to pleasurable things and experiences. It is the belief that this pleasure will bring everlasting happiness. However, attachment leads to suffering when the object of the desire is lost or changes. Raga creates a cycle of dissatisfaction and pain. 

    When we learn to recognize the impermanence of all things and no longer cling to objects, states of mind, or people, it will ultimately lead to greater peace and freedom. Simply put, you won’t be upset if your favorite bowl is broken and you learn to accept that people move in and out of your life.

    Dvesha is aversion or repulsion. Dvesha arises from past experiences with pain and suffering. It can manifest as resistance, anger, frustration, resentment, or other negative emotions directed towards anything associated with past pain.

    Cultivating understanding, compassion, and awareness of the root causes of aversion can help overcome it. 

    Abhinivesha is fear of death and the end of one’s individual existence. When one believes in ego and the illusion of maya, they cannot move beyond the cycle of birth and death. Fear of death or clinging to life, even in the face of impermanence can only lead to suffering. 

    Yoga celebrates the natural flow of existence and transcendence of attachment.

    When we are born our minds are pure. Gradually the purity becomes clouded by thoughts and feelings. Our minds grow and become full of ideas. We are influenced by the ideas of others and our thoughts are coloured by our experiences.

    To return to our pure heart we need to remove these obstacles.

    When The 5 kleshas are removed, your mind is free and your being comes in alignment with everything that goes on around you. Everything happens without effort at the right time and place. There is nothing to worry about or fear because the universal energy moves through you. Even if you are having a tough time, it is because the universe needs you to learn a lesson so you can evolve to a higher state of consciousness.

    When we become attached to the ideas formed through our senses, our thoughts obscure our true nature.

    When we are in control of our emotions, we are freed from their impact. We can walk the middle path striking a balance between excessive attachment and aversion, beyond suffering.

    You have the power to break the cycle of birth, old age, sickness and death and become an awakened soul aligned with your life’s purpose.

    People don’t like getting old because they are stuck in the cycle of birth, old age, sickness and death. They see their mortality approaching, with suffering, aches & pains and illness. But not everyone has the privilege of growing old. Old age brings wisdom and a lifetime of experiences. It is something to be proud of. When one realizes that we exist beyond the definition of our senses and discover that our spirit is eternal there is no need to fear death.

  • Samskaras

    Samskaras are our habits. They are ingrained thought patterns that compel us to behave in certain ways. The thought patterns can be positive or negative, self-serving or self-defeating. They are formed by our intentions, when we consider the outcomes of your actions and eventually become behaviours without conscious thought.

    A samskara is like a goat track through the field, a way of thinking and reacting that is repeated, forming a pathway in our subconscious mind. When we are born, our minds are like a fertile field scattered with seeds. The field is cultivated, and the seeds germinate. If positive seeds are nurtured positive thought patterns develop but if the seeds are planted in a negative environment, the mind forms unfavourable habits that can lead to addictions.

    The word samskara comes from sam, which means “well thought out.” and kara, which means “the action undertaken.” Samskaras are formed by every thought, intention, and action experienced by an individual.

    It is possible to change thought patterns, samskaras, or the neural pathways in your mind, thus changing the path of your life. By changing negative thoughts and behaviour you can change your karma and your fate. It is not easy to recognize and change old habits, it takes will power, dedication and perseverance.

    In yoga, it is called Tapas and Svadhyaya, the burning devotion to spiritual study to improve oneself.  Tapas can burn up the bad seeds, reducing a bad habit to ashes, and we will no longer be driven to behave in a certain way.

    To transform samskaras, first you need to recognize them and notice if they are helpful or hindering. Cultivate the positive patterns and work on replace the negative ones. Notice when you react in the same way in similar situations and arrest the reaction.

    If you have a repetitive negative thought, you don’t have to think that thought! You can consciously change it. Have a positive thought ready, when you notice the negative thought pop up again, change it by thinking about the thought you have at the ready.

    • Don’t judge your thoughts, let them flow through your mind and away.
    • Practice mindfulness, awareness of your thoughts.
    • In meditation you can explore deeper thought pattens.
    • Form a Sankalpa, a clear, positive intention from your heart for deep transformation.
    • Be aware of your actions.
    • Cultivate compassion, kindness, gratitude and wisdom.
    • Work at healing past traumas that can be at the root of negative samskaras.
    • Avoid situations and people that act as triggers to negative samskaras.

    When negative samskaras are burnt up, we become happier and more content within.