Evolution from spirit into matter

Yoga Discussion General Yoga
#1

Hi everyone,

I have been struggling with a concept that I am learning about in yoga history and philosophy.

Talking about dualist yogic philosophy, my teacher presented us with the concept of [U]evolution[/U] of spirit to matter, from subtle to gross (Prakriti - buddhi - ahamkara - all the way to the senses).

I find this concept difficult to understand. How do you understand it? Is is an evolution through time? Space? Is it happening internally? Externally? Has it already happened?

Sorry if my questions sound basic. I can’t help but try to relate this to concepts and ideas that are familiar to me as a Westerner, and so far it isn’t working :slight_smile:

#2

hmmmm…

There is a concept in classical or “old” yoga that one reaches samadhi then levitates above the earth looking down upon mankind’s suffering. That concept is countered by Sri Aurobindo who asserts that man will be surpassed (evolution) and that will occur not be elevating above the earth but by bringing light into the human being (consciousness) to transform light (divinity) into matter (human beings) so that we can spread that light and heal the planet.

I don’t know if this is the concept that your teacher is imparting but you could always ask for clarification.

gordon

#3

It has been happening from ages, in fact since the beginning of time. Space was a later result of evolution. Internal and external only exists in space, or rather, space is the illusion created by the division of inner and external. (one point of view, ofc, there can be others, all true)

The process of devolution from spirit to matter is the process of creation of the human being. Since the human being has been made able recieve the Cosmic Self, embracing this newly* available nature he can become a coauthor of creation. In this, too, Sri Aurobindo is right. This has been the turning point of the whole course of human history, and since than, the evolution on the path of the spiritualization of all lower natures (koshas), that from matter to spirit has begun. The human being will transform his sheats what made him able to recieve self consciousness, egohood, into spiritual, undying vehicles. The spiritualized mental-soul nature will become Manas, the spiritualized vital body will become Buddhi, and the spiritualized physical nature/vehicle will become Atman. This will happen for all, given enough time. Today only the seeds of these are present in most of us.

Of the fact that this was too much or still not comprehensible, I am aware. Still, it’s more than nothing. Truth and knowledge needs to be personal realizations, so work towards that.

  • it has been always available, but not to all, and not by the same effort. In this, we need to make the distinction between great spirits of the ancient and present teachers, and us the general humanity.
#4


Evolution from matter into Spirit

#5

Have a look at swamiJ’s explanation!

#6

Nice, big, juicy bite. This is a very good sign for you, Tanguerita. Good karma.

There are several supporting ideas to this that might help, which are not present in Western thought, such as cosmic vibration, or om, ether and prana. Look into "harmonic resonance" and "free energy," which have some Western equivalence. I will try to fill in a couple gaps, but I can't get you all the way there, as my words will not be enough.

Fast and loose:

It all starts with OM, which is The One and only, ever-present cosmic vibration. Om has no end or beginning, it goes round and round and just...IS. Then there is Ether, which is the infinite, subtle universe: everything that is, is not and has yet to be.

Ok. When Om strikes this Ether, it (the Ether) begins to resonate that vibration, like an overtone? Much like the strings adjacent to one struck on a piano or violin, or like the rattle of the windowpane when a big truck goes by. That "resonance" of Om is Spirit. Like all vibration, it has movement, rhythm, duration and direction, going back and forth, up and down, out of which is born dimension.

Now then, there exists a "potential" within that dimension, a kind of "harmonic resonance" out of which form and structure are manifest: force, energy, matter, etc. (the gross universe if you will). "You," your life, your mind and senses are the result of this harmony between Om, Ether and Spirit (or Brahma, Vishnu and Siva, or The Father, Son and Holy Ghost). Your matter, your gross body, your energy, your form and structure, are defined by the quality of that harmony (your Spirit): from perfect harmony to disharmonious, good karma/bad karma. You see?

The aim of yoga is to "tune," if you will, your mind and body to optimally resonate the vibration of om, over which we have some control. That's it. In other words, yoga provides the potential to structurally alter and improve that harmony and therefore that resonance of om, which is The (Holy) Spirit.

That's the elephant in a nutshell. I know it's not a complete answer, but I hope it helps. Here's an artwork that says it all much better than I can.

418×504 55.1 KB

The next step is how the "spirit in matter" is continually reabsorbed back into om and re-manifested with less or greater resonance, or Spirit, based on the laws of karma. Yahoo! But maybe someone else will take a crack at that one.

peace,
siva

#7

[QUOTE=Tanguerita;29075]Hi everyone,
Talking about dualist yogic philosophy, my teacher presented us with the concept of [U]evolution[/U] of spirit to matter, from subtle to gross (Prakriti - buddhi - ahamkara - all the way to the senses). [/QUOTE]Prakriti is reflection of Purusha.

#8

Talking about dualist yogic philosophy, my teacher presented us with the concept of evolution of spirit to matter, from subtle to gross (Prakriti - buddhi - ahamkara - all the way to the senses).

Actually, your teacher is talking about the Samkhya philosophy. It seems that you have a bit of a misconception, as the evolution that you are talking about is [I]not[/I] an evolution from spirit to matter. It is important to understand that prakriti, buddhi, ahamkara - these are all subtle forms of [I]material[/I] nature, not spirit. Evolution or transformation, or simply change, is part of the essence of material nature. In contrast, spirit, soul or self - purusa - is unchanging.

The concept of evolution is rooted in the observation that everything in nature has some material cause, i.e. physical substances are composed of atoms, which are composed of protons, neutrons, and electrons, and so on. This is all at the level of gross matter.

The Samkhya view of nature is different from modern science in that it deals with how we perceive the world, rather than with what the world is physically made of. Gross matter is not composed of smaller and smaller particles, but of sound, color, form, taste, and smell (the tan matras). It starts with sound - air is composed of sound, fire is composed of sound and color, water is composed of sound, color and form, etc. The tan matras are evolved from ahamkara, having a predominance of tamas. The organs of cognition (senses) and action are evolved from ahamkara having a predominance of rajas, and the sattvic evolute of ahamkara is manas or lower mind.

Ahamkara is said to be evolved from buddhi, and buddhi in turn from prakriti. Samkhya theorized that there must be a point of origin beyond which material nature cannot be further divided into constituent parts. Prakriti is the name given to that point of origin. That point of origin must be material in nature, because we observe that everything in nature has a material cause. Matter cannot evolve from spirit, because spirit is not a substance that is competent to produce it.

#9

Asuri,

This is correct, however we must first differentiate “material” from “dimension,” i.e., that “point of origin” of Prakriti is not “material in nature,” but rather is dimensional: the result of resonant vibration, alternating back and forth, up and down, i.e. space? And while matter does not evolve from Spirit, Spirit is its cause, i.e., they are simultaneous, as in a Trinity?

What does Samkyha say about ether?

peace and love,
siva

#10

Adityananda’s picture pretty much sums it up! love it.

#11

Hi everyone,

Thank you so much for your responses! I will read and think about them, and get back with more questions no doubt :slight_smile:

#12

[QUOTE=Tanguerita;29075]
Sorry if my questions sound basic. I can’t help but try to relate this to concepts and ideas that are familiar to me as a Westerner, and so far it isn’t working :)[/QUOTE]

Hi,
If you’d like to get a general idea for yourself and not necessarily the actual idea, you may choose to think how Westerners understand the sunlight making Vitamin D in our bones, or the earth’s gravity making our muscles and structures stronger, or air as a spirit, etc. You can make it as simple or complicated as you like, although be careful about forming definite conclusions and what it all means.
Spring season is starting here by Lake Superior, it’s a good one, best regards, Gil

#13

BTW…this would include time as well: dimension = space & time.

siva

#14

BTW…this would include time as well.

siva

#15

This is a very interesting topic. I am a westerner and sometimes I have difficulty just relating terms to concepts with correctness. I was about to purchase a book to better explain these things to me but when I went to the local book store there were just too many to choose from. Does anyone have a particular book that they would recommend to a newbie?

#16

Whatever he’s trying to say, remember that you don’t have to agree with everything to do Yoga.

You really can say “I don’t get / or agree with this part, but I can still practice yoga for it’s benefits”.

[QUOTE=Tanguerita;29075]Hi everyone,

I have been struggling with a concept that I am learning about in yoga history and philosophy.

Talking about dualist yogic philosophy, my teacher presented us with the concept of [U]evolution[/U] of spirit to matter, from subtle to gross (Prakriti - buddhi - ahamkara - all the way to the senses).

I find this concept difficult to understand. How do you understand it? Is is an evolution through time? Space? Is it happening internally? Externally? Has it already happened?

Sorry if my questions sound basic. I can’t help but try to relate this to concepts and ideas that are familiar to me as a Westerner, and so far it isn’t working :)[/QUOTE]

#17

[QUOTE=siva;29284]

This is correct, however we must first differentiate “material” from “dimension,” i.e., that “point of origin” of Prakriti is not “material in nature,” but rather is dimensional: [/QUOTE]

I’m not going to debate this. The facts are, that according to the Samkhya philosophy, which the original post asked about, Prakriti and all of its evolvents, are material in nature. For the practice of yoga as taught by Patanjali, it is important to understand this. Whether or not you agree with the philosophy is beside the point.

That which you call “ether”, is known in Samkhya as Akasa, and is considered to be one of the gross elements. Time and space are determinate forms of akasa.

#18

[QUOTE=Candi.Mae;29324]This is a very interesting topic. I am a westerner and sometimes I have difficulty just relating terms to concepts with correctness. I was about to purchase a book to better explain these things to me but when I went to the local book store there were just too many to choose from. Does anyone have a particular book that they would recommend to a newbie?[/QUOTE]

I would check the library for an introductory book on Indian philosophy, or you could probably find something along those lines on Amazon. The best book available on Samkhya philosophy is called, appropriately enough, The Samkhya Philosophy, by Nandalal Sinha, but it is definitely not for beginners.

#19


The Divine Journey of Self-Realization: Matter into Spirit

#20

Nice picture.