(A practical exposition of ancient method of visualisation of
Soul)
(Atma Vijnana)
Swami Vyas Dev Ji
Swami Yogeshwarananda Saraswati)
Published by Yoga Niketan Trust, Bharat, India
CHAPTER V – p. 184
SCIENCE
We shall now describe Anandamaya Kosha, the sheath of bliss. From
the point of view of the subtle knowledge
of Jiva (individual soul) the Bliss Sheath is the last. It is
named in various ways Hiranyamava Kosha (the sheath of gold),
Hrii Kamal (the lotus of the heart), Hidaya Chakra (the plexus of
the heart), Hridava Dahar (the space of the heart),
Hridaya Guha (the cave of the heart), Hridaya Pundarik (the lotus
of the heart), Anatata Chakra (centre of unstruck music
&emdash;pure creative sound essence), Hridaya Akasha (the ether of
the heart), Hrit Padma (the lotus of the heart), Karona Sharira
(the causal body), Linga Sharira (the subtlest body), Brahmapur
(the city of Brahma) and Anandamaya Kosha (the sheath
which is full of bliss).
The Nature of the Bliss Sheath.
Inside the heart is an oval-shaped space, like a small seedless
white grape. In the Puranas it is also known as Jyorir Linga,
the mass of light.
The position of the Bliss Sheath.
In the human body, in the middle of the chest, hidden behind the
two lungs, is the physical heart, which is the reservoir of
blood.
Through blood circulation this heart supplies life-energy and
nourishment to every part of the body, from the skin to the
bones;
further it nourishes and sustains the sensory and motor nerves and
every organ and limb of the body. It is in this heart that the
Linga Sharira or Bliss Sheath abides. This is the seat of Atman,
the self. If the heart is dissected longitudinally into two
parts,
you will find an oval-shaped hollow similar to a small seedless
grape; the Bliss Sheath pervades this space. The heart is the
centre
of blood purification; it attracts gross or impure blood, purifies
it and infuses pure blood throughout the body. With the
circulation
of the blood, the functions of knowledge and action also pervade
the entire body. The atom-like soul that is located in the subtle
area of this space uses its nearest instruments, Chitta
(mind-stuff), Ahamkara (ego-principle), Buddhi (intellect), Manas
(mind),
Indriya-s (senses) and Prana (vital air or energy). Thus it
operates the entire body and fulfils the purpose of Bhoga
(enjoy-ment)
and Apavarga (release). This will be fully described later at the
appropriate place. If, for some reason, the mechanism of the
heart
stops, Jivatman (the individual soul) moves out of the body,
taking with it vital energy, subtle senses and the four-fold
internal
organ. The wheel of life stops. And thus the play (LiIa) ends.
Life persists inspite of various diseases of the heart and of the
brain.
Through brain disorder some men become eccentric, even lunatic;
still life continues. But when the heart, which is the giver of
life fails, life terminates. Why is this ? The reason is that the
lord of life abides in the heart and when the movement of the
heart
stops He flies away from the heart.