The Journey Within

In today's world, our attention is normally directed outward. The way we have structured each trip shifts the attention inward and facilitates your journey within. In ancient times, it was taught that we have not one body, but five. These are called the "koshas".

During the trip, we touch on all five "koshas" – raising your consciousness and moving further inward, eventually leading to the innermost body – the "I am" or field of pure consciousness.

Annamayakosha
Literally meaning "food body" – this is the outer most level or the physical body. Through our daily practice of asana or yoga postures, we will establish a connection with the physical body. The practice of asana purifies, strengthens, tones, and stretches the physical body. We will also purify the physical body by maintaining a healthy, vegetarian diet while on the trip. Once the physical body is purified, we can travel inward.

Pranamayakosha
Prana means "life force or energy". Moving within, this is the next level and is known as the energy or etheric body. During the trip, the course in Pranic Healing and various breathing techniques (or pranayama techniques) will bring our consciousness to this level of existence. Once we become aware and begin to purify the energy body, we can travel further inward.

Manomayakosha
Mana means "mind". The next of the koshas is the mental / emotional body. It is the level where we process our thoughts and emotions. Often known as the "Great Barrier", this body can often cloud us with illusions or fear and a false sense of self or identity. The character building, meditations, and various techniques taught in the course on Soul Realization will begin to purify the emotional and mental bodies, thus enabling us to travel further inward and become aware of our true nature.

Vijnanamayakosha
Vijnana means knowing. This is the level of wisdom and intuition known as the higher mental or causal body. It is where we find discernment to seek and know Truth. The goal of soul realization is to achieve oneness with the Higher Soul which is said to reside in the causal body or the vijnamanakosha. Through the meditation taught in the course, we will begin to gain greater access to this layer. As we do, it pulls us further within and moves us to find the eternal center of consciousness. Thus, we continue to travel inward.

Anandamayakosha
This is the innermost or first of the koshas. Ananada means bliss. This is the field of pure consciousness, of effortless Being, that transcends the mind and the emotions. It is peace, joy, love and bliss – ever-present and unchanged by any events or stimuli. It is here we find the experience of the "I AM" and know our true Self. During the meditations on the trip, we may begin to come into contact with this field or buddhic plane. The more we contact it, however briefly, the more we begin to bring that awareness and consciousness into our way of being.