Realms
of the mind (kosas)
Kosa means "layer of mind." There are five layers
of the human mind, in addition to the physical body, which –
although technically not a kosa itself – is given the name
Annamaya ("food") Kosa. Its natural means of development is through
diet and physical exercise. In Ananda Marga practice it is also
developed through asanas, Tandava and Kaoshikii.
"The mind is composed of five layers, just
like the banana flower."
Shrii Shrii Anandamurti
1. The Crude Mind is called the Kamamaya Kosa. Kama means
"desire." It is this most superficial layer of mind that is responsible
for attraction and aversion to sensory stimuli, and the physical
reactions to those stimuli. It is developed naturally through physical
clash, and for sadhakas (spiritual practitioners) by following Yama
and Niyama.
2. The Subtle Mind is called the Manomaya Kosa.
Man means "to think", and it is this layer of mind which
gives the experience of pleasure and pain through thought, memory
and dreams. This kosa is developed naturally through physical clash,
and in Ananda Marga sadhana by pranayama with cosmic ideation.
The next three deeper layers of mind are collectively
known as the Causal Mind. Causal signifies that these layers are
in the most direct contact with the Causal Consciousness from which
the mind has evolved and within which it exists.
3. The first layer of the Causal Mind is the Atimanasa
Kosa – the Supramental Mind. This is the intuitive layer,
which gives the capacity for such phenomena as intuitive dreams,
clairvoyance, telepathy and creative insight. Its natural means
of development is through psychic clash, and in Ananda Marga sadhana
by methods of pratyahara (withdrawal) such as shuddhis and Guru
Puja.
4. The second layer of the Causal Mind is the Vijinanamaya
Kosa, or Subliminal Mind. Vijinana means "special knowledge,"
and includes many higher qualities of mind such as viveka (conscience,
or discrimination – the ability to determine right from wrong)
and vaeragya (non-attachment – the realization that it is
unwise to be attached to any limited entity). The natural development
of this kosa is through psychic clash, and its development is accelerated
by the process of dharana.
5. The most subtle layer of the Causal Mind is
the Hiranyamaya ("golden") Kosa, the Subtle Causal Mind. Here the
awareness of mind is very close to the direct experience of Supreme
Consciousness. There is only the separation of a thin veil of ignorance.
Its natural development is through attraction for the Great, and
dhyana accelerates this process for sadhakas.
The lessons of Ananda Marga meditation develop
all layers of the mind in a balanced manner.
The development of mind is a process of clash and
cohesion. Whenever an action is performed it creates an impression,
or potential reaction, in the mind. This is called samskara –
the distortion of mind waiting for expression. In order to express
one's samskaras, different experiences (some pleasurable and others
painful) will have to be encountered, depending on the samskaras
to be expressed. But regardless of whether the experiences are pleasurable
or painful, from a spiritual viewpoint they are always desirable
because they facilitate the exhaustion of one's samskaras –
hence the purification of mind and consequent increased desire for
cosmic merger. So obstacles and hardship are considered beneficial
on the spiritual path. For the optimal progress, therefore, spiritual
practice must be combined with worldly struggle, and this preferably
in the form of social service.
"It is a bigger thing to put one lesson into action
than to hear many.
You should put into action every lesson of your life."
Shrii Shrii Anandamurti
Email info at anandamarga.org
if you have any questions.
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