Plane

Plane is a term that in some spiritual and esoteric philosophies is used to refer to a locality or dimension, which can be physical or non-physical. The original source of the word "plane" in this context seems to be the late Neoplatonist Proclus, who frequently used the word platos (πλάτος) meaning "amplitude, breadth, broadness, width", as in the expression en to psuchiko platei.

H. P. Blavatsky defined the word plane as follows:

Plane. From the Latin planus (level, flat) an extension of space or of something in it, whether physical or metaphysical, e.g., a “plane of consciousness”. As used in Occultism, the term denotes the range or extent of some state of consciousness, or of the perceptive power of a particular set of senses, or the action of a particular force, or the state of matter corresponding to any of the above.

Seven planes

In the Theosophical view, the universe is seven-fold, consisting of septenary planes:

Our philosophy teaches us that, as there are seven fundamental forces in nature, and seven planes of being, so there are seven states of consciousness in which man can live, think, remember and have his being.

This seven-fold system repeats itself at the level of the universe, the solar system, the earth, the human being, etc.

Kosmic planes

Mme. Blavatsky said that the Kosmos (the whole universe beyond our Cosmos or solar system) is constituted by seven planes:

Believing in seven planes of Kosmic being and states of Consciousness, with regard to the Universe or the Macrocosm, we stop at the fourth plane, finding it impossible to go with any degree of certainty beyond. But with respect to the Microcosm, or man, we speculate freely on his seven states and principles.

The names of these planes are the following:

7th Kosmic Plane

6th Kosmic Plane - Alaya or Oversoul (unmanifest)

5th Kosmic Plane - "Divine Thought" or Mahat

4th Kosmic Plane - Fohat and Kosmic Kama-Manas

3rd Kosmic Plane - Kosmic Life or Pranic Kama

2nd Kosmic Plane - Kosmic Astral

1st Kosmic Plane - Prakriti - Kosmic Body

These kosmic planes are very subtle or spiritual, and out of the seven, "three are inconceivable and four are cognizable by the highest Adept." In fact, according to Mme. Blavatsky even "the highest Dhyan-Chohans of the Solar System can have no conception of that which exists in higher systems, i.e., on the second “septenary” Kosmic plane." It is possible that in this quote HPB was counting planes from above below and, therefore, she was referring to the sixth kosmic plane of the list shown above.

Although human beings cannot perceive these higher planes, the is a correspondence between them and his principles, and therefore, he can experience their reflection on his own level:

These seven planes correspond to the seven states of consciousness in man. It remains with him to attune the three higher states in himself to the three higher planes in Kosmos. But before he can attempt to attune, he must awaken the three “seats” to life and activity.

Prakritic planes

The lowest (first kosmic) plane, called prakritic plane, is also divided into seven as follows:

7th

6th, or Alayic-Prakritic

5th, or Mahatic

4th, or Fohatic

3rd, or Jaivic

2nd, or Astral

1st, or Objective (Terrestrial)

These planes belong to the solar system, and they are cognizable to the Mahatmas.

Terrestrial planes

The first, or lowest of the prakritic plane, is called the Objective or Terrestrial. It includes the phenomena with which we are familiar, and in them human beings have their seven principles. They are named as follows:

7. Para-Ego or Atmic

6. Inner-Egoic or Buddhic

5. Ego-Manas

4. Kama-Manas or Lower Manas

3. Pranic Kama or Psychic (instinct)

2. Astral (things are reversed)

1. Objective (plane of the senses)

The lowest of the terrestrial planes, the physical or objective one, is the one sensed by the five physical senses. Each of these planes is also made up of seven "sub-planes".