One evening in our regular Meditation & Philosophy Class we explored the koshas, their connection to our habits and how we can break free and be spontaneous, fresh and interesting people.

The five koshas, the layers or sheets (or dimensions) of our existence, are:

1. ANNAMAYA KOSHA              the physical body / layer of nourishment
2. PRĀNAMAYA KOSHA           the energy body / vitality
3. MANOMAYA KOSHA             the feeling mind / layer of emotions
4. VIGYĀNAMAYA KOSHA       the reasoning mind / layer of the intellect
5. ĀNANDAMAYA KOSHA        the body of bliss / joy

We can see that there is an increase in subtlety as we move from the gross physical body through the energy body, the emotions, the intellect, to the bliss body.

Of these, the most interesting is the PRĀNAMAYA KOSHA.  That is why Pranayama, the breathing practice, is so important in Yoga.

The PRĀNAMAYA KOSHA has the most freedom.  It flows through all the other layers, like many currents in the ocean.  In and out, back and forth, in every direction.  It influences and enlivens them all.

As long as there are currents in the PRĀNAMAYA KOSHA, there is always activity in the other layers.  Physical sensations, emotions and thoughts.  When the currents settle, the intensity of these settle and we can disconnect from them.  The currents and the activity in our body and mind are settled by Meditation.

The PRĀNAMAYA KOSHA also influences the other koshas through the stored memories each retains.  These stored memories or impressions are called vasanas.  We are all well aware of the memories in our reasoning mind and emotional mind.  The memories in the physical body are evident as, for example, pain or scar tissue.  Vasanas can be positive or negative, pleasurable or unpleasurable.  We hold on to the negative ones because they represent unresolved issues, to the pleasurable ones because we want to experience that pleasure again and again.  Our mind migrates back to these stored memories again and again, adding more energy to them. 

In the course of our lives, we gradually build thousands of vasanas.  Eventually, they combine to form samskaras (habits), which control our behaviour and form our karma. We become predictable.

One habit we may develop is worrying about a future event.  We can hardly sleep.  The whole night we are thinking and planning in our mind, trying to prepare for the future, control the future, trying to solve everything beforehand.  Apart from all the energy we expend (waste), we only see limited solutions that are unlikely to be the best. 

To break this cycle, the yogis recommend we be centred and be present.  Only by being open in the present moment do we see all the possibilities.  By stepping back, rather than reacting, we allow ourselves the space to be the witness of what is going on inside us.  We stay centred, observe our thoughts and emotions and ask for intuitive guidance.  We trust that, if we remain centred, an intuitive guidance will come.  By remaining the witness, we no longer react, we respond in the moment.  At the end of the day, yoga is skill in action, responding intelligently without trying to change anything.

By being centred and responding in the moment we break through our samskaras.  We are no longer predictable.  We are fresh and interesting.  Life is fresh and interesting…

More on Cultivating the Witness from the next week session:
 

As we discussed in the previous blog on the five Koshas, the PRĀNAMAYA KOSHA flows through all the others.  It influences, enlivens (and corrupts) them all.  We also discussed vasanas, impressions of the past and the associated desire to repeat or avoid that experience in future.  They are stored in the physical body, emotional mind or reasoning mind; growing in strength over time and eventually combining to become samskaras, habits that we repeat again and again.

We also learnt that to break this cycle, the yogis encourage us to witness, to sit back, step back and observe.  We observe the triggering of the vasanas.  We observe the urge to repeat a samskara.  We observe with detachment, with interest, with acceptance. Sitting with the experience, observing from a distance, not reacting.

As well as being the witness, it is important to take time out to be still.  Vasanas, samskaras and the egoistic desires all have a seat in the PRĀNAMAYA KOSHA, the pranic movements.  Settling the pranic movements reduces the intensity with which the vasanas are triggered.  There is less energy in them.  With less energy in the pranic field, it doesn’t control us.  We can control it, directing the prana to certain body parts, certain corners of the feeling mind and reasoning mind, to dig out and release certain memories and information.

But the prana is never completely steady.  Even when everything else is still, we are breathing.  We are alive.  So there is always some triggering of vasanas, but when we are still, there is very little energy behind it.  And it is easier to cultivate the witness within.

When we identify with the ego we say “I am sad.”, “I am hungry”, “I am happy”.  As the witness, we say “I experience sadness”, “I experience hunger”, “I experience happiness”.  It becomes an objective experience rather than a subjective experience.  We can accept it and allow it to pass through us.

The silent awareness, is the witness that pervades everything.  Everything we feel and think; what we say; what we do.  It is that part of each one of us that always is.  Consciousness within.  The seer of life’s drama.  It is perceived behind the thought “I am”.  Not that I am this or I am that; simply “I am”.

It is formless and timeless.  Timeless because it is always in the present moment. 

Our silent awareness does not have memories or desires.  It witnesses memories and desires. 

It observes what is. 

Be the silent awareness. 

If there is nothing to observe, then observe the emptiness, the stillness.  Observe your Self… 

Then turn this awareness around onto your Self and be aware of your awareness…

Written by: David Bevan after a Meditation & Philosophy class with Swami Gopal Puri May 2020