Our mind is the most prominent part of our body. It is situated inside our head and lies in the topmost part of the body and is responsible for the overall functioning of the body. Our mind is a single organ. Yes, it may be true but, on the surface, the mind is the combination of various parts and fragments which is unique from other parts and have their unique functions. They are collectively working together to form a single mind. The mind has a mind level and even those levels have their types.
There are two types of mind levels, the inner mind, and the outer mind. The outer mind has three parts, conscious mind, subconscious mind, and unconscious mind. However, the inner mind level is divided into four parts supra-conscious, superconscious, supreme conscious, and cosmic conscious.
Let us begin to look at mind levels, starting from the outer mind and its types:
Conscious mind
The conscious mind is the mind that is active on the surface, and one is currently aware of. It has a very volatile memory and passes memory to other parts of the mind. Simply, it is the part that is thinking about what you are thinking now. The mind that is on the surface and can be seen on the surface is only a fragment of our consciousness and mind. We can see that on the various mind level our conscious mind is the tip of the iceberg while a huge fragment of that iceberg remains underwater unseen by anyone.
Subconscious mind
This level of mind is the conscious and unconscious mind. This part stores the memory and experience that are sent by the conscious mind and returns it to it when the time of experience and past memory is needed. This mind is responsible for dreams and is more active when our conscious mind is not working, and it is during the time of sleeping.
It is said that the Subconscious mind is one of the most important parts of the mind itself. The subconscious mind is even more active and powerful than the conscious mind. It is the very reason why it is said that the mind is more active and powerful during sleep as it is the time when the subconscious mind. That is the very reason why some artists say that they sometimes compose their songs and music in their dreams and later write in the morning.
Unconscious mind
The unconscious mind is part of the outer mind level which acts as the reservoir of memory and feelings. This mind level is mostly the cause of our behavior, actions, and way of thinking which is based on core memory. Unlike the other part of the mind, this mind’s memory is not available for introspection. It is where the core memory is stored. Core memory is something that is at the core of the memory, and in fact, people are not even able to alter it or remember it.
Now, let us look at the types of inner mind levels and their types:
Superconscious mind
It is the type of mind that reaches the highest level of awareness of the human mind. Frankly speaking, it is even beyond the conscious and the subconscious mind. This mind is linked to the third eye chakra and is located between the center of two eyebrows. This mind is the link that one needs to tap into the state of energy by living in this material world.
Supra conscious mind
It consists of three words, Supra, conscious, and mind where supra means beyond. This is the level of mind that is beyond the conscious mind. There are many things beyond the outer and the conscious mind, which deal with energy and the realm beyond the world of matter. These inner mind levels exist in the physical plane but operate and connect with the spiritual realm. The supra-conscious mind level is beyond logic, consciousness, and even reality.
Supreme conscious mind
It is the mind that when activated provides the state of supreme consciousness. It is said that everything in this entire universe is changeable and with time changing all aspects is inevitable and the only thing that is going to remain constant and unchanging is the supreme consciousness. A supreme conscious mind provides a sense of equality for the individual who has activated it. They see each and everyone without any form of indifference and discrimination.
Cosmic conscious mind
The intellectual potential that is given by the cosmic conscious mind is called cosmic consciousness while the source or the mind which grants the connection to those is called the cosmic conscious mind. It is one of the ultimate states of the inner mind level, which when activated grants the ultimate knowledge of the cosmos itself.
The cosmos is the entire universe itself and the energy related to the cosmos is called cosmic energy. The cosmic mind level of the human body grants the individual the connection to knowledge and touch with the energy of the cosmos.
Niyama in yoga are the guidelines and duties of healthy living and a liberated state of the soul. Niyama is a Sanskrit word and when translated it means rules and Niyama in yoga are the rules of the life by which one should live. When one follows the saying of Niyama in yoga they get the satisfaction of the soul which is extremely hard to achieve otherwise.
There are a total of 5 Niyama in yoga. Let us look at all those Niyama in yoga in detail:
Sauch
Sauch means cleanliness. This Niyama in yoga is all about cleanliness and clearness. It means the purity of both the mind and body. The mind is our inner self and is the first part of the process of Sauch. While the second is the body and is our external self by which we interact with the world.
Our outer body needs to be cleaned as well as our surroundings. Clean body and clean surroundings are the first aspects of healthy living. When the body and surroundings are unclean, it becomes the host of various diseases and conditions. However, when the environment and surroundings are cleaned the disease cannot exist there.
A clean mind is also as important as a clean body. When the mind is not clean it becomes host to various negative thoughts and feelings. Some thoughts and emotions are very harmful to one’s very existence so one needs to follow the rules of Sauch.
Santosha
Santosha means satisfaction. This Niyama in yoga is all about getting happy with what one has. Human beings have endless desires and wishes. No matter who they are and in what position they are, their needs and desire are never going to get settled. A person may either be extraordinarily rich or extremely poor, they have a good life with basic needs or not, it does not matter most are not satisfied.
Santosha Niyama in yoga, tells everyone to be satisfied with what they have. Yes, one needs to always try to be their better self and strive for excellence. However, one also needs to be satisfied with what one has.
Tapas
Tapas means self-discipline. This Niyama in yoga is all about living in the discipline. Discipline is another thing that sets humans apart from everyone. Animals can be trained to be disciplined, through fear and other means. However, they will never be in discipline to obtain something more or to get near to their soul, that is only what humans can do and that is what makes them very much special.
One needs to set boundaries and discipline themselves to achieve great things. Tapas in simple terms means austerity. May it be from sexual pleasure, or through the path of rejecting the world and material environment, the path is paved towards freedom and finding one’s greater self. Tapas Niyama in yoga assembles spiritual power through the process of austere. When all of the distractions are rejected and only focused on the soul, the one thing that truly matters wonders happens.
Svadhyaya
Svadhyaya means self-reflection. This Niyama in yoga is all about learning about yourself. The world is very big and mysterious, there are wonders and magic in every part of the world. It is amazing how much there are. However, while looking at the vastness and everything about the world we forget to see ourselves. The eyes and the body that are watching and experiencing this vast and entire world are also as worthy and amazing as the world which deserves knowing, studying and reflection.
We are a soul that is living in this body. Most of us think that we are body and experience the world through it, trying to figure out the world. However, we also need to figure out ourselves and that is what Niyama in yoga tells. When one closes their eyes to the world then they see themselves, the real them which is hidden from the world even themselves. One can meditate, think about their actions, practice yoga to self-reflect.
Ishvarapranidhana
Ishvarapranidhana means to surrender to higher power or Ishvara. This Niyama in yoga is about giving yourself to the almighty. Here higher power means Para Brahma who is the source of everything. By everything, it means the source of all of the life, non-living, living everything is Para Brahma. Even we are all part of the eternal soul.
Eternal peace and eternal bliss are only obtained when one truly connects with Parabrahma. We all have the fragment of God inside of us but without realizing it and working we are never going to activate the connection. Ishvarapranidhana Niyama in yoga tells the way to surrender oneself to the higher power and make the way to bliss.
There are various questions regarding what or who is Ishvara. Ishvara depends upon the individual. Meaning that Ishvara is not a specific god or entity, they can be anyone with a personal connection to the individual.
Yoga and yogic philosophy are very vast fields. It is composed of various teaching, learning, and knowledge. Among the various philosophy and teachings, there is the teaching and philosophy of Pancha Kosha. Pancha Kosha are the five layers that cover the soul of an individual.
Pancha Kosha is composed of two words Pancha and Kosha. Pancha means five and Kosha means sheath in Sanskrit. This philosophy says that our soul is covered by five sheaths in total. They are all the level of awareness by which every experience of the individual is filtered.
The center of Pancha Kosha is the soul which is the center of existence itself. The five sheaths enclose the soul. Let us look at the five of those sheaths in detail.
The five sheaths of Pancha Kosha are as follows:
Annamaya Kosha
It is also called the food sheath and is the outermost layer of the Pancha Kosha. It is believed that the happening of the physical body can impact this Kosha, due to this very reason it is believed that this is the most vulnerable of the Pancha kosha. When imbalances in the body occur, this will directly affect this Kosha. Food is the vital element for this Kosha as it is for the physical body.
Our Physical body is very much dependent on the food we take. If we eat healthy food our physical body will be at the peak of physical self with good exercise and it will, in turn, make Annamaya Kosha very healthy, balanced, and strong. Aside from the food, good sleep, exercise, yoga practices, also aids to balance the Annamaya Kosha.
Pranamaya Kosha
This is the sheath that lies inside of the Annamaya Kosha and is the second Pancha Kosha. This is the layer of vital life force and energy. Lifeforce is the vital cosmic energy that flows as life in all living beings. When the life force is present in a body the body is alive and when it drains and goes away from the body, the body dies.
Pranamaya Kosha is closely connected to Annamaya Kosha and performs the activity of animating the physical body. Pranamaya is connected to the life force in the body directly. When the life force is strong and thriving this layer of Pancha Kosha also thrives while if the life force diminishes so will the pranamaya Kosha.
Pranayam is the exercise of breath to enhance the life force within the body. It is composed of various techniques and exercises which will enhance the efficiency of breath and make the air element in the body very active. This will enhance the Pranamaya Kosha.
Manomaya Kosha
Manomaya Kosha is the third of the Pancha Kosha and is inside of the Pranayama Kosha. This is the level of the mental and psychological sheath. The mind and psychology are deeply related to perception.
Every human is unique to other humans, and it is not a matter of physical appearance but a matter of perception and mind. It is your thinking, mentality, way of life that makes you unique and not the material factors.
Your mental aspect is a very important part of your being, and this layer reflects your mental state. As you walk along with your life and have a better perception and strong mentality this layer strengthens. There are also various ways one can make it better immediately, like doing meditation, yoga, and other things which make your mind and will stronger.
Vijnanamaya Kosha
This is one of the innermost sheaths of the Pancha Kosha only second to the Anandamaya Kosha. This is the level of intellect. Intellect is not something you are born with but is something one has to work on continuously for a long period. It can be said that it is the collection of the experience one has had with the world for a long period. This Pancha Kosha is directly connected with inner wisdom as well as the deeper states of consciousness.
Consciousness is a very important aspect of oneself, it is who we are and what makes and defines us. This kosha of Pancha Kosha is especially important for inner growth and defines one’s awareness.
One can strengthen one’s consciousness by various yoga and meditation as well as similar activities.
Anandamaya Kosha
This is the final of the Pancha Kosha and is the closest to the human soul. This is the sheath of bliss that gives eternal peace and satisfaction. The closer the sheath grows the closer it will be to the soul and the more spiritual the sheath becomes. This sheath is beyond logic, mind, consciousness, and the materials of the world. This sheath provides the eternal bliss which no material in the world provides and satisfies the soul completely.
This of the Pancha Kosha being closest and connected with the soul of the individual is capable of connecting with the universal consciousness. One can use this connection to achieve enlightenment also. One needs to walk the path of meditation, yoga, and similar things to achieve universal consciousness.
Prana is a Sanskrit word, and it translates to life. Prana is also used to denote the air in the human body and is collectively said to be prana Vayu. Air is one of the four elements that give life to a living being. When talking about the Vayu in the body most only think about respiration and breathing, however, the air is more than just breathing and is present in various parts doing various functions. There are five of them and they are collectively known as the Pancha Prana Vayu.
Air is the life in all of us, without air we cannot be alive. Since it is the most constant element, we need it in the body at any time. It is called prana Vayu. Yes, other elements are also very important like water, earth, and space but nothing is required as instantly as the air. We need to take in the air every time to be alive. Air plays a much more important role in the body than just breathing. Let us look at the Pancha prana and its role in the body.
Prana Pancha pranas
This is the main and first of the Pancha pranas. This is the process of breathing and from the nose to the lungs, every organ is involved in this action. In this through the help of the lungs, windpipe, mouth, and nose air is constantly taken into the body and constantly thrown out of the body continuously. This Pancha prana is called the prana (life) itself because it is the life element in the body continuously filling the body with life energy. Aside from the lungs, this prana is also responsible for the heart. This Pancha Prana has upward movement.
Apana Pancha pranas
Apana Pancha prana is the second of the five Pancha prana. This type of Vayu in the body moves downward. The organs below the lungs are responsible for this type of Vayu. The urinary system, small and large intestine, and kidney are the major organs that are associated with this prana. The function of this prana in the body is the elimination of the waste in the body through urination and bowel movement. Apana Pancha prana actively moves the waste out of the body for the efficient functioning of the body. When this Vayu in the body gets weakened or imbalanced the individual suffers from problems like constipation, piles, etc.
Samana Pancha pranas
Samana Pancha prana is the third of the five Pancha prana. This Vayu does not work like the prana and Apana in the most noticeable way but works very subtly. This Vayu is active in the organs like the liver, pancreas, stomach, and small and large intestine. The purpose of this Vayu in our body is to digestion the nutrients in the body and collect them in the required organs and system.
The work of this Vayu is very subtle but also one of the most important as it is responsible for balancing and providing the required nutrients for the body to function better and well. When this Pancha prana in the body is not working correctly then an individual may face problems regarding nutrients, vitamins and minerals, and digestion-related problems.
Udana Pancha pranas
Udana Pancha prana works in the upper part of the body. This Pancha prana acts in the face and throat region. Inside of the head is the most important organ of the body which is the brain. It is responsible for everything; our consciousness is our brain. Udana Pancha prana also performs the task of providing oxygen to the brain. Apart from all these functions, Udana Pancha prana is also responsible for the movement of the hands and legs. When this Pancha prana in the body is disturbed then various functions in the head region, as well as the efficient functioning of the hands and legs, are disturbed.
Vyana Pancha pranas
This is the final of the Pancha pranas. This prana is very different from all of the other pranas and their working process. Others work in specific organs and parts, but Vyana Pancha pranas work in every part of the body. Also, the functioning of the Vyana Vayu is at the cellular level. The function of the Vyana Pancha prana is to transport the required nutrients and minerals to the various parts of the body.
It is the function of the blood to transport the nutrients and other vital elements to the various parts of the body and the Vyana Pancha prana also works within that very domain. In the cases of shortage of nutrients and minerals in the various parts of the body, this Pancha pranas sends the required nutrients and elements for better healing and efficient functioning of the body. It can also be said that it is the reserve for energy that gets more active when there is scarcity in the various places of the body.
In Jain, meditation is considered a central practice and it has been considered so for a long period. Various known names in Jainism have contributed a lot to Jain meditation. Among them, one is Lord Mahavir who has contributed a lot to Jain meditation.
Lord Mahavir has achieved the divine state through meditation and unfolded many secrets in Jain meditation.
Lord Mahavir taught to meditate in two kinds, first with the help of external objects I.e. Using external objects as the source to focus and concentrate and the second was the meditation without the support of any external objects.
The way to meditate in Jain meditation by Mahavir
First one needs to sit firmly and fix their vision at the tip of the nose while stretching both of the arms gently. Now, put the eyes in the semi-closed position. Normally, either we close our eyes or open them but during Jain meditation by Mahavir, we semi-open the eyes where they are half-opened and half-closed.
When our eyes are opened, we are aware and conscious of our surroundings and respond to their work and live in it. However, when our eyes are closed, we are in a state of rest, we regain our energy and are not aware of our surroundings. However, their state is the state of meditation as per the Jain meditation where there are qualities of both of the states. One is aware of the surroundings with the half-opened eyes while the half-closed eyes give a sense of rest and relaxation.
A relaxed body is another integral part of the Jain meditation as per Mahavir. The body should be as relaxed as it should be a feather that is floating through the air.
To achieve perfection in this form of Jain meditation, Mahavir took various aspects and let us look at the ways he followed to enhance his meditation:
Food
Mahavir accepted all kinds of food that is considered edible by a monk. Yes, he fasted for some time, even days sometimes, but he never completely gave up food and ate when he felt his body required food. He went on to practice meditation and yogic principles for 12 and half years. While converted to days it becomes 4515 days, among those days it is believed that he only ate for 341 days and on other days he took complete fasting.
Sleep
According to Mahavira one needs only enough sleep, and more sleep is not ok. He had gained a complete victory over his sleep. He was never in a deep sleep and only slept as much as he needed, no more than that. He never vowed to get rid of sleep but accepted sleep as equal to medicine, neither more nor less just of the right amount.
Silence of speech
Mahavira also practiced silence of speech during his Jain meditation. Our speech is a powerful tool. It is so powerful that it can create wars and also end them. Mahavira knew the power of speech and was also controlled by accepting the practice of Mauna during the mediational and yogic processes.
Poutre
Posture is also an important element in meditation. Various meditation techniques belonging to various civilizations have several postures. These postures also change according to the goal of meditation as well as the type of energy that is going to be channeled using it. Katotsarga, Utkutasan, Virasana, and Goduhi kasana are various meditation postures that were used by Mahavir during practicing his form of Jain meditation.
Isolation from others
Meditation is a deep process and often requires self-isolation. Even in ancient society sages and gurus isolated themselves from society and practiced meditation in forests and in isolation. Mahavira also spent time in isolation away from others and finding the truth. In Jain meditation also isolation is required and when an individual isolates themselves from the sound of the world they will find themselves.
Place
Mahavir always resided at the edge of the city and villages and never at the center where there were a large number of people. According to his teachings Jain meditation place also deeply impacts the meditation and yogic practices. When a place is connected with nature and possesses the elements of nature, it will enhance yoga, yogic activities as well as meditation. He did not settle in one place and was on move, but he was not also in constant motion and stayed for some time in one place.
Independence and self-reliance
Independence is truly needed and not just in Jain meditation. Mahavir was truly independent in every sense. He avoided big cities and settlements because their people would help him in every way. According to him, one needs the power of independence and self-reliance to find the truth. According to stories not only the humans but gods also offered their help to him, but he rejected them every time. One time even the king of heaven Lord Indra offered his help and assistance, but he rejected him and remained independent in his life.
