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Since every individual now walking the earth plane must some day journey through the valley into that next Invisible Land, it is advisable to learn as much of that "far country" as is possible. The principal point is: the physical world, which we understand through our five senses, is the world of effects, and in order to understand this world of effects it is necessary to comprehend the super-physical world about us, which is indeed the world of causes.
We see manifestations of the mysterious force of electricity all about us, and it would be difficult for someone to convince us that electricity does not exist; yet it remains an invisible phenomenon. Science has made the atom so commonplace that everyone accepts the fact that we are not only surrounded by, but composed of, atoms. Therefore, it is necessary for us to learn more of these facts in nature, as well as to develop the senses which reveal the existence of the super-physical and in¬visible world about us.
We cannot completely comprehend man and this lower world until and unless we gain some comprehension of the higher world and realize the extent of the forces existing there and the causes of which all material things are but the effects. Once this truth is realized the higher world and its planes become far more real and indestructible than our physical world and its objects.
The first thing to be learned in our study of man and the planes is this:
1. There are thirteen planes of manifestation. However, we designate only seven on our
chart. We have grouped the higher seven on the chart under the classification, "The
Divine Godhead" because they are so far beyond human comprehension as to make
expounding upon them mere speculation.
2. Man has thirteen bodies, or vestures of expression, corresponding to each of the
thirteen planes. However, again we are concerned only with the seven in our
immediate studies and we shall only mention briefly any manifestations beyond
them. Thus we arrive at the present agreement that there are;
A. Seven planes of nature;
B. Seven bodies, or vestures, of man.
In this Lesson we are concerned with the planes only.
In this Lesson we shall be brief in speaking of the four higher of the seven planes, since our real study concerns the TRUE three worlds, or planes of man -- the physical, the astral or emotional, and the mental. By glancing at the chart we find the planes listed:
1. Physical
2. Astral
3. Mental
4. Intuitional
5. Spiritual-Nirvanic
6. Monadic
7-13. Divine Godhead
Notice that each of the seven planes is divided into seven sub-planes, making a total of forty-nine planes in all. In discussing briefly these planes of nature, we shall begin with the topmost -- the seventh, the Divine Godhead — and work downward to the lowest plane, the physical, which we understand the best.
THE SEVEMTH PLANE -- THE DIV1HE GODHEAD
Writers of esoteric philosophy have chosen various titles to describe this realm of the Godhead;
1. Divine Plane
2. Mahapara-Nirvanic
3. Adi
4. THAT — The Unknown
5. The Logos
We prefer to call this region THE DIVINE GODHEAD. This Godhead embodies seven cosmic planes and little can be said of these planes because the human mind cannot conceive of knowledge concerning them.
We see manifestations of the mysterious force of electricity all about us, and it would be difficult for someone to convince us that electricity does not exist; yet it remains an invisible phenomenon. Science has made the atom so commonplace that everyone accepts the fact that we are not only surrounded by, but composed of, atoms. Therefore, it is necessary for us to learn more of these facts in nature, as well as to develop the senses which reveal the existence of the super-physical and in¬visible world about us.
We cannot completely comprehend man and this lower world until and unless we gain some comprehension of the higher world and realize the extent of the forces existing there and the causes of which all material things are but the effects. Once this truth is realized the higher world and its planes become far more real and indestructible than our physical world and its objects.
The first thing to be learned in our study of man and the planes is this:
1. There are thirteen planes of manifestation. However, we designate only seven on our
chart. We have grouped the higher seven on the chart under the classification, "The
Divine Godhead" because they are so far beyond human comprehension as to make
expounding upon them mere speculation.
2. Man has thirteen bodies, or vestures of expression, corresponding to each of the
thirteen planes. However, again we are concerned only with the seven in our
immediate studies and we shall only mention briefly any manifestations beyond
them. Thus we arrive at the present agreement that there are;
A. Seven planes of nature;
B. Seven bodies, or vestures, of man.
In this Lesson we are concerned with the planes only.
In this Lesson we shall be brief in speaking of the four higher of the seven planes, since our real study concerns the TRUE three worlds, or planes of man -- the physical, the astral or emotional, and the mental. By glancing at the chart we find the planes listed:
1. Physical
2. Astral
3. Mental
4. Intuitional
5. Spiritual-Nirvanic
6. Monadic
7-13. Divine Godhead
Notice that each of the seven planes is divided into seven sub-planes, making a total of forty-nine planes in all. In discussing briefly these planes of nature, we shall begin with the topmost -- the seventh, the Divine Godhead — and work downward to the lowest plane, the physical, which we understand the best.
THE SEVEMTH PLANE -- THE DIV1HE GODHEAD
Writers of esoteric philosophy have chosen various titles to describe this realm of the Godhead;
1. Divine Plane
2. Mahapara-Nirvanic
3. Adi
4. THAT — The Unknown
5. The Logos
We prefer to call this region THE DIVINE GODHEAD. This Godhead embodies seven cosmic planes and little can be said of these planes because the human mind cannot conceive of knowledge concerning them.
The Seven Planes of Our Solar System
(The Seven Mansion's in the Father's House)
(The Seven Mansion's in the Father's House)
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Click Picture
The Godhead represents the highest conceivable spiritual attainment, and passes beyond the human level and above human comprehension. The glory of the plane is, indeed, so transcendent that some have mistakenly supposed that attainment unto it was equivalent to annihilation of the man -- that to merge with this plane of the Godhead was to obliterate completely every vestige of individuality and individual consciousness. The exact opposite is true. To acquire this exalted consciousness is to slip into such complete at-one-ment with God that one literally becomes God. Beyond this it is useless to speculate. Man at his present level of evolution is not capable of this supreme attainment.
Perhaps many different names have been given to this plane because those who write or speak of it are mute in the face of its ineffable glory. The ancients called it the plane of "Mahapara-Nirvana,” "Maha" means great and "para" signifies "beyond. "Nirvana” is a Sanskrit term which attempts to convey the idea of complete spiritual perfection and attainment- To refer to the divine Godhead as the plane of Mahapara-Nirvana was to indicate that it was "a plane beyond the greatest” that man could comprehend.
THE SIXTH PLANE -- THE MONADIC PLANE
The sixth plane, the second from the topmost, has also been ascribed various names:
1. Anupadaka
2 .Monadic
3. The World of Virgin Spirits
4. Para-Nirvanic
We prefer to call it the Monadic Plane. The term Monad signifies the divine Spark which is projected from the Godhead. Again It projects a further projection of Itself, which is the reflected Spark of God manifesting in each individual human. Since this sixth plane is the permanent home of this divine Spark, known among all occultists as the "Monad," we have chosen to call this plane the "Monadic Plane." It is on this Monadic Plane that the Monad is formed -a spark of divine consciousness whose process of involution and evolution leads to the development of the human soul and the heights of spiritual grandeur that lies beyond it. This spark of spiritual consciousness, this Monad: — radiates from itself a projection, a part of Itself, to the planes below it, which is called a soul. This soul builds a form about itself — a body built of the atoms of the plane of physical manifestation.
On the mental planes, .the body of the soul is a force field of mental substance. In the lower part of this mental force field, the soul forms the physical body as a lower aspect of itself. The physical form, then, is built around the lower aspect of the soul, and the ensouling life determines the configuration (or form) of the body
THE FIFTH— THE NIRVANTC PLANE
This plane has also been known by various names:
1. Atma
2. World of Divine Spirit
3. Celestial
4. The Plane of Spirit
We prefer to call this the Nirvanic Plane. However, since it is also popularly recognized as the plane of ATMA, it is well to explain that "atma" designates pure spiritual, divine will. Atma is a Sanskrit word which also means "Self." The disciple will be better able to understand the Atmic or Nirvanic Plane by recalling the Eastern term "Nirvana." This is a word, as we said, which attempts to convey the idea of complete spiritual perfection and attainment...a mental state of supreme spiritual bliss, so hoped for and so despaired of attaining. It is the estate to which ALL saints and avatars, yogis and initiates aspire. It is_the_plane of Self-realization through divine will. It is the plane of the Nirvanic consciousness, that level of consciousness which is the daily expression of those we call Masters,
Again, some believe that the Nirvanic consciousness is equivalent to annihilation of the individual. But is the Master in his own individual life annihilated? Annihilated, yes, from all that is base and carnal. but expanded in consciousness into near God-hood. The Nirvanic Plane is the plane where the true Self becomes known. It is, indeed, the opposite of annihilation. If there be any annihilation, it could be only that of the not-Self, which is the material, transient part of us. The Nirvanic Plane, then, is that plane of pure spirit where the highest aspect of man can be known and realized, the plane of the REAL spirit-Self.
This plane has also been known by various names:
1. Atma
2. World of Divine Spirit
3. Celestial
4. The Plane of Spirit
We prefer to call this the Nirvanic Plane. However, since it is also popularly recognized as the plane of ATMA, it is well to explain that "atma" designates pure spiritual, divine will. Atma is a Sanskrit word which also means "Self." The disciple will be better able to understand the Atmic or Nirvanic Plane by recalling the Eastern term "Nirvana." This is a word, as we said, which attempts to convey the idea of complete spiritual perfection and attainment...a mental state of supreme spiritual bliss, so hoped for and so despaired of attaining. It is the estate to which ALL saints and avatars, yogis and initiates aspire. It is_the_plane of Self-realization through divine will. It is the plane of the Nirvanic consciousness, that level of consciousness which is the daily expression of those we call Masters,
Again, some believe that the Nirvanic consciousness is equivalent to annihilation of the individual. But is the Master in his own individual life annihilated? Annihilated, yes, from all that is base and carnal. but expanded in consciousness into near God-hood. The Nirvanic Plane is the plane where the true Self becomes known. It is, indeed, the opposite of annihilation. If there be any annihilation, it could be only that of the not-Self, which is the material, transient part of us. The Nirvanic Plane, then, is that plane of pure spirit where the highest aspect of man can be known and realized, the plane of the REAL spirit-Self.