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. They are named as follows:

7. Atmic consciousness, that of the Para-Ego.

6. Buddhic, Inner-Ego.

5. Manasic, Higher or Individual Ego

4. Kama-Manasic, Personal Ego or Higher Psychic

3. Pranic-Kamic or Psychic (instinct)

2. Astral (things are reversed)

1. Objective (plane of the senses)

The states of consciousness on the seven subplanes of this Terrestrial plane have been described as follows:

1. Objective Sensuous Consciousness. The consciousness that pertains to the five physical senses in man and rules in animals, birds, fishes, some insects, etc. Here are the “Lives”; their consciousness is in Âtma-Buddhi; they are entirely without Manas.

2. Astral Instinctual Consciousness. The consciousness of sensitive plants, of ants, spiders, and some night-flies (Indian), but not of bees. Among other animals the non-mammalian vertebrates are without this consciousness, but the placental mammals have all the potentialities of human consciousness, though of course dormant, or latent, at present. On this plane is the consciousness of idiots. The common phrase, “he has lost his mind,” is an occult truth; for when, through fright or other cause, the lower mind becomes paralyzed, then the consciousness acts on the astral plane. The study of lunacy will throw much light on this point. This may well be called the “nerve plane.” It is cognized by our “nervous senses,” of which, as yet, modern physiology knows nothing. Hence it is that a clairvoyant can read with the eyes bandaged, with the tips of the fingers, the pit of the stomach, etc. This consciousness is greatly developed in the deaf and dumb. On this plane everything is reversed, reflected upside down.

3. Kâma-Prânic, or Physiological-Emotional Consciousness. This is the general life-consciousness which belongs to the objective world, even to the stone; for if the stones were not living they could not decay, crumble away, or emit a spark. Affinity between chemical elements is a manifestation of this, Kâma-Prânic consciousness. To this plane, also, belong the life-preservative instincts, as for instance that which prevents a kitten going into the water and getting drowned. [A stone could not crumble unless there was life throughout it; for the crumbling is not due only to friction by water, air, etc., or the action of frost, but to the fact that every particle in the stone is in a state of active vibration, performing rhythmical motions, not in a state of inertia. These life-waves, pulsing in the stone, throw its molecules apart, thus enabling foreign matters and influences to enter between them, force them farther apart, and so cause crumbling away. Even this is not all: the vibratory action of the life itself, apart from any interference from without, tends to ultimately disrupt the combinations of molecules that make up the stone.]

4. Kâma-Mânasic, or Psychic, or Passional-Emotional Consciousness. In animals and idiots the instinctual consciousness on the lower planes of sensation is in this state; in man these are rationalized. For instance, if a dog is shut up in a room, it has the instinct to get out, but is unable to do so because this instinct is not sufficiently rationalized to take the means necessary for its liberation. A man at once takes in the situation, and lets himself out. The highest degrees of this Kâma-Mânasic consciousness are psychic, there being within this sub-plane, as with all others, seven degrees from the instinctual and psychic.

5. Mânasic or Mental-Emotional Consciousness. From this plane Manas stretches up to Mahat.

6. Buddhic, or Spiritual Emotional Consciousness. The plane of Buddhi or of the Auric Envelope. From this plane consciousness goes to the “Father in Heaven,” Âtman, reflecting all that is in the Auric Envelope. The Mânasic and Buddhic states cover the planes from the Noëtic to the Divine, but it is impossible at this stage to define them intelligibly. Call the highest plane x if you will. You can’t understand it.