PLANES OF SPIRITUAL HIERARCHY

PUBLISHED IN ECONOMIC TIMES DELHI ON 12th FEB  2011, EDITORIAL PAGE 8

PLANES  OF SPIRITUAL HIERARCHY

Tejinder Narang

Mystics and seekers experience higher “states” of consciousness as they ascend path of spirituality. In Vedic system, these are termed --  Pinda, Anda, Brahm, Parbrahm and Parmatma. Jesus defined them as many “mansions” in house of “my Father”. Sufi Dervish say them as  “Tabaks/aalams” and  last stage is called “Mukame Haq” (abode of Truth).  Guru Nanak Sahib, in Japji (verse 34-37), classified spiritual awareness in four sub-divisions-- Dhram, Gyan, Saram and Karam Khands (regions)-- originating from fifth region--- Sach Khand. Esoteric experience of any mystic cannot be captured or written, but here is an intellectual description as understood ---  

1.     Dhram Khand --Realm of Moraliity or Righeousness/ Pinda ---our  physical plane, of seasons, days, nights, wind, fire, earth and water; ruled by laws of action and reaction. Here  all beings are judged by karmas. “As shall you sow , so shall you reap”. ‘Dharam Raj’ is the arbiter of all actions. Messengers of Lord/ perfect saints are stamped with Divine grace (to assist seekers). Mind and Maya weigh heavily on Soul.

2.      Gyan Khand --Realm of Spiritual Knowledge/Anda/ – A subtle (sukhsm) plane, with finer fabric of mind and maya, where  an  understanding of working of creation upto Brahm, the third region is attained. Explosion of Gyan provides sublime bliss. This domain is inhabited by gods, goddesses, deities and “Angels of the Lord” of Biblical depiction. Cosmic creations  invisible to human eyes are experienced. (Lord Krishna provided spiritual vision to Arjuna  for  glimpse of His “Visvarupa” as projection of other awesome  creations.) Adepts comment astral enticement of this domain is so intense that it might endanger further progression of  an aspirant.

3.     Saram Khand - Realm of Brahm ---- This is the point of origin of Universal Mind. Intuitive consciousness, intellect and understanding of  mind and maya are shaped here.  Some scholars mention it  as  ‘the domain of inexpressible splendor” in which soul feels humbly overwhelmed. Others refer it as ‘Realm of effort’, (shram khand ) where heroic souls shed last traces (residual sanskaras) of I-ness (Ego) --  Kam, Krodh, Lobh, Moh  Ahankar for journey upward.

4.      Karam khand –  Realm of Grace/ Parbrahm ( Here Karam is a Persian word meaning grace.)-- this is beyond three region of mind and maya where souls  are “Blessed with Divine Grace”. Melodies of Nam/ Bani,/ Nad/ Dhun/  Word/ resonate with full force. Souls, who have vanquished pull and power of three lower regions, abide in this plane

5.     Sach Khand - Realm of Truth/ Parmatma  ----the Soul’s true home, infinite region of eternal truth, abode of formless Lord where He presides and surveys. Here His will reigns supreme for compliance in all realms. (Perfect Saints maintain that souls at  this stage cannot be pulled back to the lower creation.)

Divine hierarchy underscores that Mind and Maya are active in three realms -- up to Brahm. When  grace is showered in Parbrahm then soul merits mukti and merges with Parmatma.