koshas 3

                                  
           
the knowledge of whom we already are, can be found within the awakening journey of the koshas                                          

What is a kosha? 

We have had a look at koshas before. Often a kosha is believed to be the sum total of something: for example, the pranamaya kosha (prana or life-force sheath) is believed to be our body of life-force. 

But a kosha is actually the sheath, the skin, which holds in the contents of the kosha. 

A sheath is something that we put something into. Such as a knife being put away into it's container, it's sheath, which will be moulded to the shape of the knife.

In the same way, each kosha is a sheath, moulded to the shape of the physical body. Each kosha contains specific contents, pertinent to it's sheath.

Why do we have koshas?

Each kosha is a vehicle for an aspect of oneself. Each of these aspects are separate and has it's own function. Yet, of course, each is part of an interweaving whole.  For the koshas do indeed interact with each other:

The physical kosha, or physical sheath, which houses the physical body, needs the other koshas:

• the prana sheath which contains the life-force. This life-force provides a vitality which we need for our incarnation. Without this life-force, we die. It is a moving, shimmering, aspect of oneself, with a number of differing pranas which are each for specific functions. 

prana is the energy behind everything. without it, we cannot exist

• the mind sheath which houses thoughts, feelings, pictures, patterns, and a type of mystical cellular memory which goes hand-in-hand with our soul's journey, and which also affects our physical body, helping us to make us uniquely oneself

prana moves the contents of the mind sheath; and the contents of the mind sheath either allow for a greater flow of life-force, or impede the pranic flows

• the astral sheath which houses the entire chakra and tattwa (elements) system, along with the deeper aspects of manifestation within creation of the soul's incarnation, such as the sensory organs, on a deeply mystical level, and the organs of action, as well as specific akashas (spaces)

the sensory and movement organs, have their origins in a very deep inner level. there is a very subtle force which moves them. however, they too, can be impeded by physical accidents and abnormalities; pranic blockages; mind and emotional turmoil. 

everything has it's own function: all are part of the whole

• our causal sheath which houses our golden body. A direct link to Divinity. For, without Divinity, we do not exist.

What has fascinated me in my spiritual journey, is that most of my deepest knowledge came from Maori healing and Ancient Maori Lore; it was my stepping stone into the causal body and the Deeper Mysteries of The Universe

Koshas are not "bodies"

But, they do exist within one of three, of our "bodies":

1. The physical body, as already mentioned, is indeed contained within the physical sheath
2. the subtle body, has three sheaths within it: 

• prana
• mind
• and astral sheaths

These three mystical aspects of ourselves  are the realms which we "work with" in investigating our Higher Nature. It is where we "find" ourselves, on a different level. We could say that the subtle body houses our hidden, subtle, aspects.

       3. the causal body, like the physical body, is it's own body. It is our link with the Divine play of reincarnation, and with angels. It is a body of love.

Each body, each kosha, needs the others.  All are part of the Soul's journey within incarnations.