0 Researches in Sahaja Yoga. No. 3. The Three Worlds An investigation into the Three-fold Nature of Creation ‘Researches in Sahaja Yoga’ ‘Researches in Sahaja Yoga’ (RiSY) is a series of books on topics connected with Sahaja Yoga, researched through the study of Shri Mataji’s talks and other scriptures, and through the experiences of meditation. Books published or planned in the series so far include: 1. Om Namaste Ganapataye. A detailed translation of the Ganesha Atharva Sheersha. 2. Shri Lalita Sahasranama. The Thousand Names of the Supreme Goddess – with commentary. 3. The Three Worlds. An investigation into the three-fold nature of Creation. 4. Shri Chakra. The Symbolism of the Great Yantra of the Supreme Goddess. 5. Bija Mantras. 6. Navaratri. A collection of praises for worship during the Nine Nights. The books can all be downloaded free at symb-ol.org 1 This book is surrendered at the Divine Lotus Feet of Her Supreme Holiness Shri Mataji Nirmala Devi in the hope that, in some small way, it may enhance the Glory of Her Teachings. The only true Nirmala Vidyā –‘Pure Knowledge’ is in the silence and bliss experienced through Complete Surrender at the Feet of the Mother of the Universe, incarnated as Her Supreme Holiness Shri Mataji. In this ‘Nirmala’ state we go beyond any of the mental dross associated with having a physical or even a subtle body. However it can be interesting to discuss the journey towards this destination and in that spirit we offer this small book. 2 Contents Preface .......................................................................................... 5 Introduction - The Three Worlds .................................................. 6 Chapters: 1. The Three Channels ............................................................... 9 2. Bhūḥ- ‘Earth Realm’ ........................................................... 15 3. Bhuvaḥ - ‘Sky, Atmospheric Realm’ .................................... 21 4. Swar - ’Kingdom of Heaven’ ................................................ 25 5. The Three Gunas ................................................................. 28 6. The Three States of Consciousness ..................................... 36 7. Turīya –the ‘Fourth’ State ................................................... 38 8. The Three Aspects of Almighty God .................................... 41 9. The Mandukya Upanishad .................................................. 45 10. Om ...................................................................................... 47 11. Sat-chit-ānanda .................................................................. 52 12. The Five Koshas –‘Sheaths’ ................................................. 54 13. The Three Attributes Manifesting in Each Realm ................ 58 14. The Three Aspects of Experience ........................................ 71 15. The Three Luminaries .......................................................... 72 16. The Three Yogas .................................................................. 73 17. The Three Stages of Worship .............................................. 75 18. The Three Granthis ............................................................. 76 19. Ganesha Atharva Sheersha ................................................ 82 20. Sahaja Yoga Mantras ........................................................... 83 21. Shri Chakra .......................................................................... 86 22. Chinese Philosophy ............................................................. 88 23. The Christian Tradition ........................................................ 90 24. The Jewish Tradition ........................................................... 95 25. Islamic Psychology .............................................................. 97 26. Buddhist Beliefs ................................................................. 101 3 27. Physics, Chemistry and Biology ......................................... 102 28. The Three Dimensions ....................................................... 106 29. Ayurveda – the Three Doṣhas ........................................... 110 30. The ‘Song of Creation’ from the Ṛig Veda: ........................ 112 31. The Three Body Positions .................................................. 113 32. The Twelve Signs of the Zodiac ......................................... 115 33. Other Threes ..................................................................... 118 Quotes by Shri Mataji ............................................................... 124 Appendix 1. The Samkhya Philosophy ...................................... 129 Appendix 2. Doing – Help or Hindrance? .................................. 135 Bibliography .............................................................................. 141 Author’s Note ........................................................................... 142 (1) “Shri Mataji’s quotes are all in Maiandra font with double quotation marks, and are referenced in the text with dates”. (2) ‘Quotes from other sources are in Sylfaen font and are referenced in the text or in the Bibliography. p.115.’ Abbreviations: BoAS ‘Book of Adi Shakti’ – Shri Mataji’s book on Chakras etc. Ch. Chapter LSN Lalitā Sahasra-nāma –‘1000 Names of Shri Lalita’ Editing Shri Mataji’s Quotes Shri Mataji’s quotations used in this book may have been edited in one of two ways: 1. Shri Mataji asked that we amend Her grammar if faulty – it is not so respectful to reproduce in print incorrect grammar produced while speaking spontaneously. 2. Quotes may have been shortened to be more appropriate for print. Again while speaking extemporaneously more words are used and constructions may change during a sentence. 4 Preface Her Supreme Holiness Shri Mataji has explained that the three letters making up Om - A, U and M - correspond with Shri Mahākālī, Mahāsaraswatī and Mahālakshmī; however in the Upanishads and Purānas they are said to be Shri Brahma, Vishnu and Shiva respectively. Other sources give A as Śhrī Vishnu, or Śhrī Shiva. There appeared to be some confusion here, so a search for clarification ensued. The puzzle was compounded by the fact that, in the Three Great Mantras, we say 1‘Mahālakshmī, Mahāsaraswatī, Mahākālī...’ The Upanishads and 2Purānas also explain that A-U-M are the Three Worlds; A is Bhūr Loka –‘Earth World’, U is Bhuvaḥ Loka –‘Atmospheric World’ and M is Swar Loka – ‘Heavenly World’. More information from Shri Mataji’s talks and other scriptures kept appearing that tied into this idea and this booklet emerged as an attempt to present those findings in a structured way. Shri Mataji refers to there being Three Worlds on many occasions, often as if the concept was so fundamental that it did not need explaining! To people with an Indian cultural background it may be so, and it is hoped that, for the rest of us, this booklet will help to fill in any gaps in our cultural foundations. Chris Marlow, Kerala, 08-16 1 In India the story is told that in the early days of Sahaja Yoga, in the 1970’s, a seminar was being organised and a booklet printed of mantras and praises, including the Three Great Mantras. When Shri Mataji saw the booklet She commented ‘It should be Mahākālī, Mahāsaraswatī, Mahālakshmī, you should change it’, but when it was explained that the booklet had already been printed, She said ‘OK, keep it that way’ and it has been like that ever since! 2 See Mandukya Upanishad p.34 and Markandeya Purana extract p.37 5 The Three Worlds The ‘Three Worlds’ appear in Sanskrit literature from the earliest times. The Gayatri Mantra from the Ṛig Veda – at ten thousand years old, probably the most ancient spiritual practice still in widespread use – includes the phrase ‘Om 1Bhūr Bhuvah 2Swaḥ‘; Om is the Primordial Reverberation giving rise to the Creation, which manifests in three forms – Bhūr- ‘Earth’, Bhuvaḥ- ‘Atmosphere’ and Swar- ‘Heaven’. These are known as the Three Worlds or Three Lokas –‘Wide space, World, Universe’. [from lok –‘to perceive, know’] The Three Worlds continue to be mentioned throughout Indian literature. In the Devi Mahatmyam the Goddess is described as ‘Trailokya trāṇa sahite’ -‘Saviour of the Three Worlds’, in the Mahābhārata Shri Vishnu is called Tri-lok‛eśha -‘Lord of the Three Worlds’, the outer square of the Shri Chakra is called Trai-lokya Mohana –‘Deluding the Three Worlds’, in his poem ‘Ai Giri Nandini’ Shri Ādi Shankarāchārya describes the Goddess as Tri-bhuvana Poshinī – ‘Protector of the Three Worlds’ – the list goes on and on. ‘Knowing that the world was lying in pure water, the Bhagavān- ‘Shri Vishnu, Supreme Being’ cut the egg open. From it the Omkāra- ‘The Sacred Syllable’ emanated. The first sound (A) of it was ‘Bhūh’ – ‘Earth’, the second sound (U) ‘Bhuvah’ -‘Atmosphere’ and the third sound (M) ‘Swah’ -‘Heaven’. So they came to be known as ‘Bhūr Bhuvah Swah’. Then the glorious radiance of the Sun was born from it and Brahmā, the grandfather of the worlds, originated in the centre of the egg.’ Shri Vāmana Purāna 1 Bhūḥ Bhuvaḥ Swaḥ are called the Three Vyāhṛitis- ‘Mystical Utterances’ recited daily by the ‘twice-born’ (Brahmins, Kshatriyas and Vaishyas) before the Gāyatrī Mantra while lighting the sacred fire. 2 Swar is also spelled Suvar in the Yajur Veda [from Swar- ‘to shine’] 6 But what do these Three Worlds mean to us on the level of everyday reality? Do they have a living, breathing significance in our lives? The answer is ‘yes’ because it will be instrumental in our ascent to understand the three modes in which our