Amrit Vani: Sādhanā of the Pancakośas – Harness the Five Supreme Resources Within
— Pandit Shriram Sharma Acharya (discourse excerpt)
(English version of some excerpts of a discourse given by Pandit Shriram Sharma Acharya)
The life of revered Gurudev, Pandit Shriram Sharma Acharya, is a live exemplar, an ideal guiding light for all sādhakas — seekers of the ascetic life and spiritual ascent. He was a seer-sage, a true saint, a preeminent rishi of the present era, who not only accomplished supreme levels of spiritual endeavors but also elucidated the mystic knowledge and explained the deep aspects and otherwise intractable facets of arduous sādhanās so lucidly and convincingly that following his adept guidance, ordinary people could also achieve great goals.
The present article brings us the essence of one such enlightening discourse in which he eloquently explained the deep and difficult topic of a higher-level spiritual experiment — the Pancakośī Sādhanā.
Let us begin with a collective chant of the Gayatri Mantra:
"Oṁ Bhūr Bhuvaḥ Swaḥ, Tatsaviturvareñyaṁ Bhargo Devasya Dhīmahi, Dhiyo Yonaḥ Pracodayāt."
Sisters and Brothers,
The Almighty Creator has sent us (human beings) with the five precious sheaths (Panca Kośas) that shield our real-self, our soul. These Panca Kośas are like five devatās (god-forms, divine powers).
Popular Convictions about Devatās
Many of us consider devatās as omnipotent, who can do miracles, who can bless us with enormous wealth, joy, brilliance, talents, and everything we desire; who can liberate and protect us from all diseases, sorrows, worries, hardships, scarcities, and all kinds of adversities. However, one does not quite know about their reality — how do they look, where do they live?
That way, when we see the ostentation of some priests and find no difference in the conduct of some so-called devotees and others, we feel frustrated and doubt their 'devotion'; sometimes we wonder as to why the devatās they worship are not helping their improvement!
Spirituality Is a Science, Not a Conviction
But the devatās I am referring to pertain to spirituality. Spirituality is not a conviction or blind faith. Spirituality is like a science. It is based on evidential experiences and reasoning; its truth can be challenged, tested, and verified. It is not based on any tradition or doctrine. It is a science of awakening and elevating the vital spiritual energy; it is a science of holistic development of life; it pertains to the evolution of consciousness. The experiments of this science are conducted on one's own body, mind, and inner-self, through specific sādhanās.
The Five Kośas — The Real Devatās
What are the Panca Kośas? These are foundational components of the inner being and its manifestation. Our physical body is made up of bones, flesh, blood, muscles, nerves, etc., at the visible level, and its subtler constituents are cells, the extracellular fluids, and intracellular components. But the physical body alone is not our being.
Our physical body is alive and functions because of the flow of vital energy, the life-force in it; we also have sensory faculties, the (conscious) mind, and intellect. These are the components of our subtle body. At further sublime levels of our being is our emotional core, our unconscious mind, our conscience. All these are expressions of our Consciousness-Force (Cetanā). All of these constitute the Panca Kośas:
| Kośa | Sheath | Domain |
|---|---|---|
| Annamaya Kośa | Physical Sheath | Body, organs, senses |
| Prāñamaya Kośa | Energy Sheath | Vital life-force, prana |
| Manomaya Kośa | Mind Sheath | Conscious mind, emotions |
| Vigyānamaya Kośa | Knowledge Sheath | Intellect, discrimination |
| Ânandamaya Kośa | Bliss Sheath | The ultimate state of bliss |
I can assure you that if you sincerely attempt the sādhanā of even the first three of these kośas, you will achieve excellence and enormous worthy success with happiness in this very life. In fact, if you are determined and sincere, you will start experiencing this gradually within a short time.
Sādhanā of Annamaya Kośa
Sādhanā means "sādha lenā" — to refine, sharpen and glaze, to have complete control to accomplish the best. Sincere practice of indriya saṅyam — self-restraint over the instinctive passions and self-discipline over the sensory organs — is most essential for the sādhanā of annamaya kośa (the physical body).
Among all the sensory organs, the tongue is most vital in this sādhanā. It is like the entrance, the key to the treasure of potentials of this kośa. It is the greed of your tongue, its craving for tasty and lavish food, which, if left unchecked, would upset your metabolic functions and invite varieties of diseases and health problems. On the contrary, if you control it and discipline your food habits according to your physique, overall health, climate, and the nature of your work, then you may gradually uproot health problems and (re)gain good health.
A balanced routine with appropriate exercise is also necessary for the sustenance of a healthy and energetic body. The examples of famous wrestlers Master Chandagiram and Sandow, who had not only overcome diseases and physical weakness they suffered in their childhood but also gained immense strength by unflinching sādhanā of their annamaya kośas, are instructive here. Mahatma Gandhi used to cure his sickness by the 'worship' (through naturopathy) of this very devatā — strict self-discipline, indriya saṅyam, was integral and essential to his life.
You should also be vigilant and discipline your tongue not only regarding food but also control over speech. Similarly, you need to keep a watch over all your sensory organs.
Wholehearted Work: The True Sādhanā
Friends, this body could do wonders for you; it can be incredibly efficient if you keep it energetic and alert. Unfortunately, most people take it for granted and squeeze out all its potentials in running behind cravings or haphazard activities. Most often, they rust and ruin it in lethargy and idleness.
Most of the time, you work half-heartedly or consider it as burdensome that is to be somehow finished. This is why you might remain busy, strain your body, and feel tired but do not quite get the desired success, recognition, or satisfaction.
If you care for your work, you will pay attention and cultivate a positive temperament to see the good associated with it. If you learn the importance of every task in your hand — every work, however big or small — then it would become interesting, and you would do it most efficiently. The immediate gain of this approach/attitude will be that you would become optimistic, calm, and cheerful.
Sooner or later, you would start getting recognition and rewards for your wholehearted hard work, efficiency, and dedication — enormously more than what you would ever expect.
(To be continued in the next issue)
Notes:
- Chetanā: Consciousness-Force of a being. It is the source of all our manifested and sublime experiences; it is an expression of the existence of our soul. It is an expression of the Brahṁ — the Omnipresent, Eternal Consciousness Force.
Empathy nurtures wisdom. Apathy cultivates ignorance. — Suzy Kassem
Thoughts don't become things; thoughts ARE things. — Eric Micha'el Leventhal
If every day is an awakening, you will never grow old. You will just keep growing. — Gail Sheehy
Who looks outside, dreams. Who looks inside, awakens. — Carl Jung