The Life Beyond Death
Chapter III The Planes
of Life
One of the elementary ideas of the Yogi Philosophy most
difficult for the ordinary Western mind to grasp and assimilate
is that of the “planes” of life. This difficulty is most
apparent when the Western student attempts to grasp the Yogi
teachings regarding “the other side.” The Western thought
insists upon the concept of the realm of the life of the
disembodied soul as a place, or places. The Western theology is
responsible for this, to a great extent, although there is also
to be considered the tendency of the Western mind to think in
terms of objective existence, even when life apart from the
objective is being considered. The average Western religionist
insists upon thinking of “heaven” as a place situated somewhere
in space, containing beautiful mansions of precious stones,
situated on streets paved with gold. Even those who have
outgrown this childish idea find it difficult to conceive of
their heaven as a state rather than a place. The Western mind
finds it hard to form the abstract concept, and naturally falls
back on the old idea of a heaven in space.
The Oriental mind, on the contrary, finds it quite easy to grasp
the idea of the several planes of existence. Centuries of
familiar
thought on the subject has rendered the concept as clear and
definite as that of place. We have met Western thinkers who
smilingly confessed that they could not divest their concept of
“planes” with that of a level strata, or layer of some kind of
material substance. But this conception is as far from the truth
as is the idea of mere place. A plane is a state, not a place in
any
sense of the word. And the student must learn to eliminate
theidea of place from that of plane.
A plane is a condition or state of activity in the eternal
energy of spirit in which the Cosmos lives, and moves and has
its being.
In any given point of space there may be many planes of
activity. Taking our examples from the physical world, let us
use the
ordinary vibration of sound as an illustration. The air may be
filled with many notes of the musical scale. Each note is simply
a certain degree of vibration of the air. The notes occupy the
same position in space, and yet do not conflict with each other
so far as space‑filling qualities are concerned. It is an axiom
of physics that no two bodies of matter can occupy the same
space at the same time. But thousands of these vibratory notes
may occupy the same space at the same time. This is borne
upon one when he listens to some great orchestral rendering a
musical composition. Many instruments are playing at the
same time, and the air is filled with countless vibrations, and
yet one may pick out any particular instrument if he choses,
and even particular notes may be distinguished. No note is lost,
and yet the entire volume is manifested in the small space of
the ear drum. This is a somewhat rude illustration, but it may
serve to accustom the mind to form the proper concept.
Another illustration, this time on a little higher scale, is
that of the vibrations of light. Light, we know, appears as the
result
of the vibratory waves of the ether coming in contact with
physical matter. Each color has its own place on the vibratory
scale. Each ray of sunshine that reaches us is composed of a
great variety of colors—the colors of the spectrum, which may
be separated by means of certain prismatic instruments. All of
the colors are to be found in every point of space in which the
ray of sunlight appears. They are all there, and may be
separated and registered apart from the others. Moreover, beyond
the
realm of light visible to the human eye, there are many colors
invisible to the human sight by reason of their vibrations
being either too high or two low. These invisible colors may be
detected by means of instruments. Perhaps these varying
rates of color vibrations may help you to form the idea of the
spaceless planes of existence.
Another illustration may be found in the field of electricity,
in which we find fresh instances of various degrees and
condition
of energy occupying the same space at the same time. On improved
telegraphic apparatus we find many messages passing
in each direction along the same wire, each independent, and
none interfering with the others. In the same way, the air may
be
filled with a thousand wireless‑telegraphic messages, attuned to
different keys and consequently not interfering with each
other. The various vibrations interpenetrate each other, each
seemingly being unaware of the presence of the other and not
being affected by it. It is conceivable, even, that there might
be a dozen worlds occupying the same portion of space, but each
being keyed on a far different vibratory scale of matter, and
yet none interfering with the other, the living things on each
being
totally unaware of the existence of those of the other.
Scientific writers have amused themselves by writing fanciful
stories of
such a series of worlds, and indeed they wrote better than they
knew, for they symbolized a metaphysical truth in physical
terms.
But, it may be objected, does the Yogi Philosophy teach that
these planes of Life are but varying forms of vibrations of
matter? Not at all. Far from it. The teaching is that each plane
represents a different degree of vibratory energy—but not of
matter. Matter is merely a very low form of vibratory energy—
even the finest form of matter. There are forms of matter as
much higher than the finest of which the ordinary physical
scientist has knowledge, as his finest matter is higher than the
hardest rock. And beyond the plane of matter rise plane upon
plane of super‑material energy, of which the mind of physical
science does not even dare to dream. And yet, for the purpose of
the illustration, we may say that it is possible to think of
every
one of the planes manifesting in the same point of space at the
same time. So you see, the conception of planes has nothing
whatever in common with that of space.
In view of the foregoing, the student will see that when we
speak of the planes of existence of “the other side,” we are far
from meaning to indicate places or regions of space. The Yogi
Philosophy has naught to do with doctrines of heavens or hells
or purgatories in the sense of places. It knows of no such
places, or regions, although it recognizes the real basis of the
teachings
which hold to the same.
In this particular volume, we shall not attempt to consider the
general question of the countless planes of existence
manifesting
in the universe. The scope of this particular work confines us
to the consideration and description of those particular planes
of
the Astral World which are concerned in the manifestation of the
existence of the disembodied souls of the dwellers upon
earth—the so‑called “spirit‑world” of the human race. We shall
see that there are many planes and sub‑planes of existence on
the great Astral Plane of Life—generally known as The Astral
World, in order to distinguish it from the Physical World below
it in the vibratory scale. Each plane and sub‑plane has its own
distinguishing characteristics and phenomena, as we shall see
as we proceed. And yet the same general laws, principles, and
characteristic qualities are common to all.
Finally, before we pass on the consideration of the Astral
Plane, let us once more endeavor to fix in your minds the proper
conception of the real nature of that which we know as “planes.”
When we speak of “rising” from a lower to a higher plane, or of
“descending” from a higher to a lower plane, we do not wish to
be understood as picturing an ascent or decent of steps. Nor are
we picturing a rising or descending from one layer or strata
to another. Even the familiar symbol of rising from the
ocean depths to its surface, is incorrect. The nearest mental
picture possible to be made of the transition from plane to
plane, is that of
increase or decrease of vibrations as evidenced in sound‑waves,
light‑waves, or waves of electricity. By tightening a violin
string,
one may raise its degree of vibration and therefore its note.
The same may be done by heating a bar of iron causing its color
to
change gradually from a dull red to a delicate violet or white.
Or in the case of a current of electricity, the power may be
raised
or lowered at will. If a still more material illustration be
required, we have the case of the hardest mineral which may be
changed
into an invisible vapor simply by raising its degree of
vibrations by heat. What is true on the lower planes of
manifestation,
is true of the higher. The transition from higher to lower, or
lower to higher may be thought of (if desired) as a change of
vibration in the energy of which all things are composed. This
will come about as near to the truth as our imperfect powers of
conception and comparison will permit. There are no words to
express the higher phenomena—all illustration in terms of the
lower planes are crude, imperfect, and unsatisfactory. But even
by these lowly symbols may the mind of man learn to grasp
the ideas of things above the ordinary senses, and beyond
thepower of ordinary terms to express.
And, now, with the above firmly fixed in your minds, let us
proceed to a consideration of the Great Astral Plane of
Existence.
