The spiritual or (to Indian Theosophists) atmic or (to Greek Theosophists) 1st - 3rd Logoic planes or pneumatic planes (or dimension or hyperplane or continuum/universe, separately, or enclosing and interpenetrating grosser planes, respectively) or worlds (simply) in Theosophy are those in which atma, i.e. 1st - 3rd Logos/Word and human consciousness/spirit/intelligence is defined to exist.[1]
People who do not apperceive spirit say this is an aspect of reality which cannot be perceived. The existence of spiritual planes has not been proven to them, to whom it appears there is no way of testing for it if it cannot be perceived (even with apperception.) The concept can be traced back to Paganism, Shamanism and other various early spiritual and religious institutions. Many believers in spiritual planes would include the Judeo-Christian concept of Heaven within it, as well as within other planes such as mental and astral.
The concept of the spiritual planes has long existed; the term itself came into with the concept of the seven planes existent in many religions[2]. Some people think the term came into use around the 1960s during the flower power movement. Holistic ideas depend heavily upon the concept of the Spiritual Plane and the manipulation of the aura for the benefit of the subject. The details of what the spiritual planes actually is varies from person to person, but it is generally agreed among believers that it is some fraction of reality which transcends perception but ultimately has an effect on our lives.
Other people believe that the spiritual planes are actual places in which spiritual entities and energies dwell. Depending on the person's belief system, these range from the souls of the dead to Gods, Demons and Noumena. We see that different people attach completely different meanings to the expression "Spiritual Plane".
Neo-Theosophists defined the 1st 4 spiritual planes by what consciousness they believe exists upon them, namely Divine Spirit/Word, Holy Spirit/Word/Oversoul (which they call human 'monad,') plain Spirit/Word (which they call human spirit,) and soul (which original Theosophists think co-exists in human spirit on the 4th spiritual plane.)
See also Loka, Nirvana, Paranirvana, Mahaparanirvana
References
- ^ Helena Petrona Blavatsky (1893–1897), The Secret Doctrine, London Theosophical Pub. House, 1893-97, ISBN 0-900-588-74-8.
- ^ Helena Petrona Blavatsky (1893–1897), The Secret Doctrine, London Theosophical Pub. House, 1893-97, ISBN 0-900-588-74-8. 200.
Sources:
- Charles Leadbeater (1912–1937), A Textbook of Theosophy, Madras, India: Theosophical Publishing House, 1912 - 1937,
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