Cognitive Ladder of Spirituality: Self – Realization

How does one measure him/herself on the scale of spirituality? Frequently, spirituality is equated to self-realization. So, alternatively, the question may be posed: how far has one advanced on the path of self-realization. The answer lies in the person’s state of mind, what is his/her level of awareness, what goes on in his/her mind. Because a person’s conduct reflects what he or she thinks, there are also clues in the person’s behavior.

The analysis is based on Upanishadic and Patanjali’s explanation of human construct. Panch Kosha (Five Sheaths) concept provides an elegant and comprehensive method to assess the progress on this ladder. The Ashtaang Yog (eight-step) path states that the later stages of human spiritual evolution are Dhyaan, Dhaaranaa and Samaadhi. This progression of control of senses and progression of internal reflection can be combined to describe the characteristic of the various rungs on the ladder as follows.

First Level: Anna-maya Kosha (Food sheath, Body awareness)

If your spiritual progress is at this level, your awareness or your thoughts are limited to your physical body and your inclination is to attend to bodily comfort. Your primary interest is in food, clothes, money and comfortable environment. You get happy, sad, angry, upset etc. if any of these are not to your satisfaction, and you continue to live a life absorbed in emotional high and lows. You are unable to change your eating and living habits even after realizing that they are harmful to your body. Your emotions change without your being conscious of it and if someone points it out to you, you feel that it is your right to be upset if your expectations are not met.

Second Level: Praan-maya Kosha (Vital air sheath, Functional awareness)

You are aware of what is going on inside your body and you can correlate how food and environment are affecting your physical wellbeing. Your behavior and thoughts are more controlled. You are aware of what is happening inside your body. You have healthy food habits, take good care of your body, and know that even if the physical, personal or environmental conditions around you are unfavorable, staying upset is not good for you. You may or may not realize when your get upset or happy, however, you do not take any action to control your response and may regret later.

Third Level: Mano-maya Kosha (Mental sheath, Emotional awareness)

At this stage of mental development, you can monitor your emotions, and become aware right away that you are happy, sad or angry etc. and can take actions to moderate your mental, verbal, physical response to the external agent that may be causing you the discomfort.  You know that anger, hate, conflict are not good for your well being. Here you are still a slave of your mind, however, you have control over your emotions. How do you move up? Ask yourself why are you exhibiting the emotions (anger, sad, happy, afraid etc.), what is the root desire which is causing you to become happy or angry?

Fourth Level: Vijyaan-maya Kosha (Intellectual sheath, Reasoning awareness)

As mentioned above, at this stage, you become aware of the thought (your desire, the root cause) that is pushing you into an emotional/physical response if the reality on the ground does not meet your expectations. Here you can make appropriate conscious decisions to control your responses. Essentially you are aware that you have a set of standards/expectations from yourself and others, and the condition of mind is determined by whether these expectations are met or not. You are starting to understand how you and your mind works. You are starting to become the master of your mind. How do you move up? Think of why do you have those personal /social standards and how natural and universally valid are they?

Fifth Level: Aanand-maya Kosha (Bliss sheath, Self-awareness)

You are aware of the cause of whatever you are thinking. You have distilled the causes down to minimum fundamental thoughts in alignment with natural or universal values – that is, the reason, the seed, for your existence; your coming into being. This is what has been driving you all along. You come to realize that only those actions of yours which are in concordance with these seed thoughts, will keep you consciously or subconsciously happy. And, if you make any decision/action or are forced by circumstances to make any decision/action against these fundamental guiding thoughts, you would be subconsciously unhappy – perhaps even consciously unhappy. This knowledge and progress empower you to be in control of your behavior and response. Slowly, your response and behavior become in accordance with the universal values. The outside world events do not affect you. At this stage your have very few thoughts that agitate your mental equilibrium. At this stage, you have realized your true self, you are self-realized. With further progress on this path, you can, at will, go into deep meditation (samadhi) and enjoy the bliss of tranquility (no thoughts).

Now, you can see, the progression on spiritual ladder is based on focused, vigilant and determined observation and control of your mind and thoughts. Remember that following the first five steps in the Ashtaanga Yog: namely, Yama, Niyama, Aasana, Praanaayaama, and Pratyaahaara; goes a long way to build a solid foundation for an enlightened person and mind.

Note 1: Self-realization vs. Self-Actualization

Self-realization is coming face-to-face with your fundamental cause of coming into being. This is different from self-actualization; which is putting all your mental and physical capacity to their fullest practical application.

Note 2: self-realization vs. Self-realization

self-realization (with a small case s, signifying realization at an individual level) is different from Self-realization (with capital S, realization at universal level). One has to transcend several more layers of awareness within deeper stages of meditation to realize the Self. This is a much rarer state indeed – coming to face to face with the all unifying entity Self/Consciousness/Brahman.

Note 3: Spiritual Ladder vs. Maslow’s Hierarchy of Human Needs

A side to side comparison of the above analysis with the widely known five tiers in Maslow’s Hierarchy of human needs in Western psychology is as follows. A sixth tier, as Maslow suggested in his later years, is also added to complete the comparison:

Tiers 1 and 2 (Physiological and Safety): Anna-maya Kosha

Tier 3 (Love/Belonging): Mano-maya Kosha

Tiers 4 (Esteem): Vijyan-maya Kosha

Tiers 5 (Self-actualization): Vijyan-maya Kosha

Tier 6 (Transcendence): Aanand-maya Kosha