The Ten Bodies of Yoga Part II: Is there an Eleventh?
The Ten Bodies of Yoga Part II: Is there an Eleventh?
By: “AJ” Amy Jo Crowell, Publisher Dallas Yoga Magazine & Founder Cosmic Yogi Festivals
Last month I expressed the importance as yoga teachers or enthusiasts to continue educating ourselves about yoga insights such as the Eight Limbs of Yoga and the Ten Bodies of Yoga. In the west, focusing on inner strength and growth is often forgotten and the physical part of yoga is stressed more. Both are important, but I feel getting in touch with our inner self and connecting with the universal power should be added to the western yoga more. Hence, the writing of this article.
I shared last week about the Ten Bodies of Yoga and explained the first five. Here is an overview and recap:
What are the Ten Bodies?
The truth is that the human body is made up of ten bodies: the physical body, three mental bodies and six energy bodies. The eleventh embodiment is when all ten bodies are under your direction produces a pure state of consciousness then you have the ability to see all events as part of God’s plan and see God in everything.
You can visualize your various bodies as layers of clothing, the physical body being an overcoat you wear for a lifetime. We know we have a physical body; we can see it, touch it, and feel it. We also have other bodies that are equally real, if not more so. Here is a list of the Ten Bodies with an overview of the first five following.
First: Soul Body
Second: Negative Mind
Third: Positive Mind
Fourth: Neutral Mind
Fifth: Physical Mind
Sixth: Arc Line
Seventh: Aura
Eighth: Pranic Body
Ninth: Subtle Body
Tenth: Radiant Body
Let’s talk about the Sixth thru Tenth Bodies…and the Eleventh!
Sixth Body: Arc Line
Our arc line extends from ear to ear going across the hairline and brow. You see it in pictures of angels, saints and gurus. It’s our halo or the nucleus of our aura and intuition. This is associated with the pituitary gland, regulates the nervous system, gland balance and perceptiveness. Women also have a second arc line going from nipple to nipple and is very sensitive with perception and protection. The key phrase relating to this Body is “Person at Prayer” describing balance between physical and cosmic realms. When this Body is mastered, we have the ability to focus, concentrate, meditate and the congruence of your inner reality with your external actions will have great power. If weak in this Body then we are overprotective, easily influenced, inconsistent moods and behavior often because of glandular imbalance. Weakness here also causes a person to be unable to manifest. The key to balancing is to awaken the pituitary gland (Sixth Chakra) through activities like pranayama, meditation, and healthy life choices.
Seventh Body: Auric Body
You’ve heard of the aura around a person. Some people can even see it and others can’t. Have you ever had your picture taken by one of those special cameras and you can see the aura? The beautiful colors all around you! The aura is the electromagnetic field that surrounds your body. It contains, projects and interacts with the energetic life force and it usually extends three to nine feet around the physical body. The qualities of the Auric Body are mercy, security, love and charisma. The key phrase is “Platform of Elevation.” If you master this Body you project positivity and reject negativity. It’s like a shield and illness can not penetrate your physical body. You will radiate a magnetic security and an inspiring, merciful presence. If weak in the Auric Body a person is paranoid, constrictive, lacks self trust, creates negativity and may have a tendency to desire to please others. The key to balancing your Seventh Body is to practice meditation, pranayama, vigorous yoga and/or martial arts. Wearing white clothing made of natural fibers gives about a 12 inch boost to the Aura.
Eight Body: Pranic Body
Prana is the life energy and is our living connection to the Infinite. The qualities of the Eight Body are purity, energy, fearlessness and balance of polarities. The key phrase is “Finite to Infinite”. If mastered then you are fearless, fully alive, at one with the universe, unshakable, self-motivated, and are in touch with your male and female aspects of self. When your Eighth Body is weak you have constant low level anxiety and fatigue. You find energy in food and stimulants instead of yourself, fearful, defensive, imbalance and blame others. The key to balancing is pranayama, exercise, yoga and/or martial arts.
Ninth Body: Subtle Body
The subtle perceptual ability to sense the Infinite and universal reality within the material and physical. It’s your connection to the non-physical aspects of all experience. The qualities of this are calmness, subtlety, mastery, intuition and insightfulness. The key phrase is “Mastery or Mystery”. When you have mastered the Ninth Body you have great finesse and tranquility. You can see the unseen and known the unknown. You can foresee the long term consequences of actions and events. If someone is weak in the Ninth Body they are naïve and easily fooled, unintentionally crude, rough in speech and/or behavior, restless and feel misunderstood and frustrated. The key to balancing is to practice meditation or kriya and focus on relating to the mastery of consciousness not the mystery.
Tenth Body: Radiant Body
The Radiant Body gives us spiritual radiance. The qualities associated with the Tenth Body are courage, creativity, radiance and nobility. The key phrase is “All or Nothing”. To master this, one needs to be courageous and creative regardless of any obstacle or fear. One will radiate excellence and exceeds all expectations. If weak in the Tenth Body one will avoid conflict, be shy, feels ineffective, unable to overcome fear, and energy levels fluctuate. The key to balancing your radiant body is unwavering commitment to spiritual values. Mediate more, do more yoga, exercise and life a healthy lifestyle.
Eleventh Embodiment
Many only discuss the Ten Bodies, but there is an Eleventh. The Eleventh Embodiment is the Parallel “Unison-ness”. The Eleventh Body contains all Ten Bodies and represents the sound current, the vibratory basis of all existence. It is in play when our humanity and divinity become one. The qualities associated with this are divine vision, the embodiment of Truth, the absence of duality and tranquil completion. The key phrase is “Infinity…See God in all, or don’t see God at all.” The mastery of the Eleventh Body is complete integration of the finite and Infinite, so everything is experienced as God’s play. Complete acceptance of, and unity with, the will of God. The key to balancing is meditatively chant a mantra to God within the mind. You can direct all parts of your being from an impersonal to an expansive space that always allows Infinity to flow through you.
“When the God in you, and the human in you are in parallel unisonness, then you are in the Eleventh Body. You have no duality, you have divine vision, and the truth flows from you. You don’t have to find anything outside of you. The jewels are all in you…you are rich inside, you have satisfaction and contentment.” Yogi Bhajan
AJ has been in advertising, marketing, publishing and large scale event planning for over 25 years. She has been an entrepreneur since graduating with her Master in Business Administration. AJ has owned stores in Deep Ellum and printed an entertainment guide throughout the state of Texas for over a decade. As an inner city high school for many years she implemented Peace Makers Classes in several of the schools teaching the importance of acceptance, diversity and giving back to the community. AJ is an Amazon.com Best Selling Author of “Loved Back to Life” a book focusing on recovery from addictions. As co-owner of Sage Properties, her business expertise is utilized as she rehabs homes and finds solutions for anyone finding themselves in financial dilemmas with their mortgages. An adventurer at heart she went to Rishikesh, India to Samadhi ashram and was certified in Kundalini yoga. You can find her teaching workshops and leading meditations with her crystal bowls and life size chimes throughout the DFW Metroplex.
