1. The seven bodies
All the real esoteric and occult schools base their traditions on the Theosophical Septenary, which is as follows:
1. Atman (Intimus, Inner Being, Intimate)
2. Buddhi (Spiritual Soul)
3. Human Soul, Manas.
4. Mental Body
5. Astral Body
6. Vital or Etheric Body
7. Physical Body
The physical body pertains of course to the 3-dimensional world. The body is composed of cells, these cells compose organs, etc.
The vital body (Hindu: Pranic body, Chinese: Chi body) is the 4-dimensional body, the Linga- Sarira of the Hindus, the living foundation of all physical, chemical, caloric, and perceptual activities. The vital body is merely the superior section of the physical body, the fourth dimensional part of the physical body. This body has an intimate relationship with our instinctive centre.
The vital body has four ethers: first, the chemical ether that is the base for the chemical forces that work in our organism, in the processes of assimilation and elimination. Second, the ether of life; this ether is related with the process of reproduction. Third, luminous ether; that is related with the perceptions, calories, etc. And finally the reflecting ether, the vehicle for the imagination and will.
The vital body absorbs vitality (Prana) and transforms it and distributes it to the physical body.
The astral body is the body of desires and emotions. It is related to the Superior Emotional Centre. With this body one can express very sublime sentiments, though normally this is the body of desires. This is a real vehicle, looks like flesh and bones, with its own organs, physiology, etc.
The mental body is the body of thoughts.
The causal body is the body of conscious will, represented in most of us by the Essence, the Consciousness or Buddhata, a small fraction of the Superior Manas.
We call these lunar bodies, and in many senses are considered to be in an embryonic state; as we progress in our Work, they will become solar bodies; the Astral Solar body is known as the Eidolon. The solar bodies are living, radiant, sublime flames; the lunar bodies are less powerful, less well integrated, more subdued. But remember: the lunar bodies are all we have to work with at the moment, and we must treasure and respect them; we will become well acquainted with our (lunar) astral and mental bodies in our forthcoming practices; we already know our Consciousness.
Atman is the Intimus, the Inner Being, the Intimate. The Intimate has two souls: the Spiritual Soul (Buddhi) and the Human Soul (Superior Manas, causal principle).
2. The seven worlds
We can make a similar list of the seven worlds (or Inner Planes):
1. Atmanic World
2. Buddhic World
3. Causal World (6th dimension)
4. Mental World
(5th dimension)
5. Astral World
6. Vital or Etheric World (4th Dimension)
7. Physical World (3-dimensional)
How is the Vital (or Etheric) World? If we have a physical body, complemented by a vital one, the planet Earth also has to have a vital body. The Vital body of the planet Earth is the superior part of this three-dimensional world of Euclid. The terrestrial vital body, is the base for the organic life of our planet Earth.
The Astral World is marvelous. By itself it is the world of colour; it has seven basic tones in accordance with the seven musical notes, in accordance with the seven fundamental colours of the solar light. The Astral World has sublime regions and others that unfortunately I would say are infernal. In the Astral World there lives the disembodied people: the "captive souls," "the captive spirits".
Over the Astral World we find the World of the Mind. In the World of the Mind we find wisdom, knowledge. In the World of the Mind there is pain and happiness, all depends on the region where we are in. In the Inferior Regions of the World of the Mind there is pain; in the Superior Regions there is happiness.
Much further from the Region of the Universal Mind or Terrestrial Mind, there is the world of the Natural Causes. In the World of Natural Causes once again the profound blue colour dominates. In the Causal World we discover that there is no effect without a cause, or a cause without an effect; the cause transforms itself into an effect and the effect is transformed into a cause that originates other effects. The Law of Cause and Effect are real and we know them perfectly when they are investigated in the world of the Natural Causes.
Beyond the World of the Conscious Will, we find the Buddhic or Intuitional World. Obviously, we could not penetrate in the Buddhic or Intuitional World if at first we do not know our own intuitive reality, if at first we do not develop intuition.
There is a clear difference between the reasoning-comparative process and the intuition. The reason works based on the processes of comparison: "this is white because that is black" or vice versa. Intuition is something different: it is the direct perception of the truth, without the depressing process of the option. In the Buddhic or Intuitional World, there exists intuition. In the Region of Intuition we discover the universal wisdom: of what is, of what has been and of what will be. In the Buddhic or Intuitional World, there is ineffable wisdom; there is fraternity, unity, totality, and love. Those that live in the World of Intuition enjoy an authentic happiness.
Much further from the Buddhic or Intuitional World, there is the Region of Atman (the Ineffable), the Region of the Intimate the Inner Being.
PRACTICE
CONCENTRATION ON A GLASS OF WATER
This exercise is best carried out sitting at a table.
Duly relaxed, we fix all our attention on the surface of a transparent glass filled with water. We must maintain our attention on this surface, without being distracted a single moment. After some time, we can observe small shapes stirring on the surface, and if we persevere, we will perceive forms that we will be able with time to connect with phenomena occurring around us. One particular feature of this practice is that it develops clairvoyance, while at the same time helping to develop concentration.
