One of the questions that may arise as you begin a spiritual practice is: Who am I?
My teacher aptly likened this exploration to a matryoshka, or Russian doll. Layers nested within layers, moving from the superficial to the increasingly subtle.
In the Vedantic tradition, this understanding is expressed through the koshas. In the Tantric tradition, it is recognised as the five-layered self.
These nested layers of consciousness are:
- Deha – The Physical Body
- Chitta – The Heart-Mind Energy Body
- Prana – The Life Force
- Shunya – The Transcendent Void
- Chit Shakti – The Power of Awareness
The nature of these layers is that each can be pervaded by the layers deeper than it. The subtler the layer, the more it permeates the others, which is why Chit Shakti is recognised as all-pervasive.
Isn’t it beautiful to know that the body is the only layer in which all aspects of the self can be experienced together? This brings a profound depth of meaning to the term embodiment.
It is also helpful to recognise a sixth layer, often shown in diagrams of this model: Vastu our “stuff” or material possessions.
The Five Layered Self
Vastu
Understanding these layers helps us see that suffering arises when we are unable to perceive the totality of who we are. We become stuck in the realm of Vastu, identifying ourselves through ideas such as, “I am rich,” “I am poor,” “I have this,” or “I don’t have that.” Although Vastu grants us the power of creative expression in the material world, dependence upon material circumstances for our sense of self often leads to suffering.
Deha
The next layer is Deha, the physical body. Here, our identity becomes tied to our appearance and bodily condition through statements such as, “I am old,” “I am young,” “I am fat,” “I am thin,” “I am attractive,” or “I am ugly.” When our identity is defined by our physicality, suffering can arise through attachment to youth, appearance, ageing, and fear of the inevitability of ageing and death.
Chitta
Chitta is the heart-mind layer, the realm of thoughts and feelings. It may seem unusual to place these together, but if they were not intimately connected, we would not be able to speak about our feelings or feel deeply about our ideas. Signs that we are identifying with the heart-mind include thoughts or statements such as, “I am intelligent,” “I am stupid,” “I am happy,” “I am sad,” or “I want to feel held.” If we look closely, feelings of sadness, loneliness, or not being held are almost always linked to a thought, interpretation, or story. A profound sense of peace and freedom can emerge when we are no longer completely identified with our thoughts and emotions.
Prana
Prana, often translated as lifeforce and is the layer through which we begin to transcend individuality, as it is something shared by all living beings. It is closely related to the breath and is often referred to as the subtle body or energetic body. Here, we might identify with experiences such as, “I feel energised,” “I feel depleted,” “I feel light,” or “I feel heavy.” Alongside diet, movement, rest, and lifestyle, this layer relates to our vitality and energy levels. It is easy to over-identify with these states rather than recognising them as temporary fluctuations within our experience, dependant upon our energy.
Shunya
The next layer is Shunya, the void. Empty of form and energy, it is characterised by profound stillness. This is the layer we touch in deep dreamless sleep and, at times, in meditation. Over-identification with this layer can lead to the path of the renunciate, one who seeks to transcend both their humanity and the world. While this path has its place, it can also result in a disconnection from life and from others.
Chit Shakti
At the centre of our being is Chit Shakti, absolute consciousness, inseparable from divine or universal consciousness. Identification with this layer allows us to recognise the sacred in all things. Realisation occurs when we understand that the body, heart-mind, prana, and even the void are all ever-changing expressions arising within this fundamental awareness.
Ultimately, the aim is not to transcend and reject each layer, but to recognise them all as valid expressions of our being. In time, we discover that wholeness is found not in escaping our humanity, but in the full embodiment and integration of every layer of the self.
Explore the theme of Who Am I? throughout July
Yoga classes in Colchester
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