Growth Online > Knowledge Base > Personal/Spiritual Growth > The Makeup of the Individual Human The Makeup of the Individual Human by Roy Posner and MSS   Introduction to Page The Vertical Scale of Human Consciousness (Matter to Spirit) The Horizontal Scale of Human Consciousness (Surface Life to Evolving Soul Within) Types of Individuals (Physical, Vital, Mental, Spiritual)  Manners, Behavior, Character, Personality, Spiritual Individuality Miscellaneous     INTRODUCTION TO PAGE (top)   In this section of the Growth Online Knowledge Base, we present our original thoughts, as well as links to our original articles on the Personal Growth topic of "The Makeup of the Individual Human." (If you wish, you can see our other Personal Growth categories.)   THE VERTICAL SCALE OF HUMAN CONSCIOUSNESS (from matter to spirit) (top) Overview | Physical | Vital | Mental | Spirit/Spiritual Mind   Overview (top)   Evolution of the Human Life in the universe began as physical matter, evolved to the vital animus of life, and evolved further to mind. The individual human embodies the matter of the universe as his physical body, experiences the vital animus of life as his vital life force, energy, emotions, and feelings, and he is the highest embodiment of the plane of mind. Human as Life Form The human is a form of life, a formulation of energy, of force that includes physical, vital, mental, and spiritual parts.    Untitled We consist of the physical, the vital/emotional, and the mental plane; and potentially the spiritual. ARTICLE and Diagram on the Vertical Scale of Human Consciousness   ARTICLE: Makeup And Evolution Of The Human Being Vertical & Horizontal Scales of Human Consciousness and Human Evolution The human can be viewed across two scales of being. The first, a vertical scale originates in our physical/material being, which has evolved to our vital/emotional being, which has risen further still to our mental being, and culminates in various planes of a spiritualized mental being and a pure spiritual being. The second, in a horizontal scale ranges from surface living and existence to a deeper existence within. The deeper existence originates at first at planes of unconsciousness (inconscience) and subconsciousness (the subconscient) within, but deeper still is a higher subliminal (inner) physical, vital, and mental being that sends up positive faculties to our normal surface living, and within this a True Self, a psychic being, the personal evolving soul. In the course of evolution man (a) rises higher along the vertical scale, from vital to mind to spirit, even as their is a descent of higher consciousness perfecting the lower planes; and (b) moves from the outer consciousness to the inner consciousness, penetrating the lower consciousness inconscient and subconscient plane and coming in contact with the higher subliminal parts and eventually to the True Self and personal evolving soul within. (The latter is aided when the superconscient spirit evolves the subconscious dullness within.)   Evolution on the Vertical Scale Spirit ^ Spiritual Mind ^ Mind ^ Vital/emotional ^ Physical (the body)   Evolution Along the Horizontal Scale Evolving Soul < Subliminal < Subconscient < Inconscience < (Depths) < Surface/Outer Consciousness     Evolving Among the Planes of Consciousness The planes that go from matter to vital to mind to spiritual mind to supermind is the vertical scale of consciousness. The movement from the surface of life to the depths of life within culminating in connection to the psychic being, the personal soul is the horizontal scale of consciousness. When we evolve, we move up among the planes in the vertical scale and move deeper within on the horizontal scale. The future evolutionary spiritual being will have reached and embodied the greatest heights of the vertical, and the greatest depths of the horizontal. Vertical Scale of Consciousness (1-9 levels) The vertical scale of consciousness spans upward from the physical to the vital to the mental. We have also identified sublevels within these three planes, for a total of 9 levels of the human consciousness; three within each plane. Almost all aspects of life can be traced along these nine levels, from the densest matter of our bodies at level 9 to the pure mind of logic and conceptual thought at level 1. (Beyond that are the spiritual levels of mind, and pure spirit levels above that.) Vertical Scale in Terms of Consciousness and Substance; then Surface & Depths Each of the four planes of the individual --  of Spirit, mind, vital and physical --  divide it into consciousness and substance.  Spirit is highest  in consciousness and substance; i.e. it has the highest consciousness, and greatest subtlety and power of substance. Furthermore, consciousness and substance subdivide into surface and depth. (paraphrase of MSS) Levels of Existence We can view our existence from unconscious matter to sensation to emotion to thought to sentiment and value to pure thought to non-thought spiritual knowledge and truth to Bliss to pure Consciousness to pure Spirit. Example of Ascent that Enables a Descent Among Planes We know that existence began as matter, emerged as animus of life, and developed to the plane of mind. For the human individual it manifests as the body and emerges as the vital/emotional consciousness culminating in the mental and spiritual domains. Thus we see a rise upward, which we can accelerate through our initiative of higher consciousness. Yet these are not only successive planes, as when (e.g.) vital/life is followed by mind. There is also a descent as a result of the ascent. E.g. when an individual develops a brilliant idea -- a development upward in the plane of mind -- he, as a result, might create a great software company of several billion dollars; a descending movement back from mind into the plane of life, which is thus elevated. Thus, we see that for each ascent to a higher plane or subplane, there is a corresponding descent downwards of progress and development at a lower plane or level. Functionings of the Physical, Vital, and Mental The Physical plane of a human consists of the subconscious awareness and impulses of the body expressed in animal instincts, basic drives of human nature, and inherited character traits. The primary drives of the physical are for self-preservation and reproduction. The Vital/Emotional plane consists of the semi-conscious sensations, urges, desires, feelings and emotions. The vital plane provides the energy for human action and expresses itself through attraction, liking, desire and enthusiasm. The Mental consists of the thoughts, opinions, beliefs, ideas and values that guide our conscious thinking, conceptualizing and decision-making processes.   The Interconnectivity of Physical, Vital, Mental Although the Physical, Vital, and Mental are distinct and different planes of existence with their own distinct forms and forces, they do not exist in isolation from each other. All three are in constant contact and interaction. All matter is instinct with life and mentality. All life is encased in a material substance and has at least a rudimentary consciousness. All mentality manifests in life in a material body.  Not only are the three in active relation, they are also in some way involved, interlaced and interwoven, each within the other. It is not enough to say they are integrated, which implies the weaving together of separate strands. It would be more appropriate to say that while each has distinct properties, they are somehow also parts or aspects of each other. It is not only the mind that "thinks", the vital that "feels" or the body that "acts", all three exhibit each of these capacities in different ways. Along with a thinking mind that deals in abstract concepts, there is a vital component to the human mind which is imbued with feeling and is the source of idealist's sentiments, the poet's emotional idealism, the artist's insights into life and reality. There is also a physical mind grounded in sensation that gives us the capacity to understand and organize physical objects and activities, to plan and strategize, to translate abstract theory into practical technology, capacities well developed in the scientist and engineer. So too, there is a mental component in the physical responsible for the body's capacity to "learn" complex physical skills such as typing, computer game reflexes and piano playing. There is also a mental component in the vital, most pronounced in active social leaders such as the politician and entrepreneur who possess a direct intuitive perceptive of vital-emotional forces in other people and life around them. These complex interrelationships and their expressions are a fruitful area for scientific research.   Levels of Love at Four Planes Every idea expresses through related ideas that offer shadings of it at the physical, vital, mental, and spiritual levels. Take the notion of love. At the physical level it is pure attachment. At the vital level it is intensity of need and desire. At the mental level it is admiration for another's character or ideal. At the spiritual level, it is pure self-givingness. As we see when we move up the scale there is a reversal from taking to giving. Moving from the Part to the Whole We perceive life as a part, not as a whole, in an endless variety of ways. For example, we readily accept life in the form of matter -- as material formations such as the earth and our bodies -- but we tend to close ourselves off from the non-material existence, including the subtle and the spiritual. On the other hand, there are spiritual aspirants and seekers who live a cloistered existence and commune with a Higher Reality, but are unable to integrate their experiences into normal, everyday life -- i.e. in the world of matter. And yet we are fully capable of bringing the parts together and living the life of the Whole -- of an integral existence; of full knowledge that when applied tends to attract vast success and individual fulfillment. For example, in the example above, if I were to connect with spirit, and then bring that truth and power into my work, I would accomplish it much more quickly, and far more effectively. When we embrace all sides of a matter or subject or aspect of life, we have far greater insight and knowledge, and are therefore able to produce infinite-like results. On the other hand, when we embrace only the part -- i.e. the limited view -- we constrict life; we reduce our effectiveness, blocking true insight that can breed abundant success. We can see this principle at work in many areas of life. For example, at the level of society, we value progress -- in particular, economic progress and development that brings material well-being. We -- especially Americans and Westerners -- like anything that speeds up that process; while disdaining things that slow it down. Thus, we rush to market an ever-growing array of products and services. This acceleration is a fine development at the material level, but it embraces only the Part. The Whole includes consideration of the effect of that process on the well-being of Man. E.g., when we bring products to market rapid fire, we would also consider whether the workers are being treated right; whether the products safe; whether the environment is maintained or degraded; whether it is creating disruptions and displacements in society; whether it meets the real needs and aspirations of the people; whether it reflect important individual and social values, and so forth. The Whole then addresses not only material, but the psychological and social factors as well. It considers and embraces all sides, all interests, all concerns -- not just the limited things we are aware of, or are overly attached to. It in essence includes the gamut of human values -- from the material to the spiritual. Interestingly, when we widen ourselves and embrace the multiplicity of truths related to a matter, we not only understand it better, but when we act from that knowledge, what we produce is of a far superior quality. In addition, negative outcomes are avoided. Here's another example. America is a great country with powerful material values. Through those values, she has brought out the infinite in matter, and enjoys unprecedented economic success. It is also, however, an example of the limitations of the part. As a result of focusing on the material alone, she struggles at the non-material level -- including the psychological, the social, and the political. Her limited view not only creates harmful side effects such as pollution and proliferation of weaponry, but psychological instability as well. If she were to embrace the full spectrum of values beyond the material, she would not only expand on her physical abundance up to infinity, but would enjoy profound social harmony and deep psychological fulfillment. To see the Whole is the integrative view of life. It creates the most benefit with the least negative effect. If this is so, then why are we not able to embrace this many-sided, integrative view of life? It is because we are limited in consciousness. Driven by our negative or false attitudes and beliefs; by our ego that creates rampant selfishness; by our preoccupation with the surface of things, we are cut off from the many-sided view of life. We miss the variety of truths that surround any subject or matter that are essential for integral, moment-to-moment comprehension. The truth is that we like what we know, and are indifferent to or reject what we don't know. As a result, we live in ignorance and falsehood. I.e. we have an exceedingly limited understanding of a matter, which limits our scope for success, while also attracting unintended negative consequences. (One principle of life is that when we embrace the part instead of the whole, the parts we overlook manifest as negative outcomes.) One way out of this conundrum, is to step back and look at any endeavor or matter, and consider it in terms of four essential aspects -- the material, the vital, the mental, and the spiritual. Doing so will tell us if we are embracing the whole or just the limited part. Let's define each and see how they serve our purpose. By the material, I mean matter -- i.e. the physical component, in any subject or undertaking. The Vital is the movement of life, including the effects on our emotions and feelings; our desires and needs; as well as our associations and interactions with others and the world around us. The mental is knowledge and understanding; our ability to comprehend; the thoughts and ideas we have; the values we cherish and the goals we subscribe, to name several. The Spiritual is beyond all of these. It is a subtle power that permeates all the other planes, and can be experienced as Oneness and Unity with environment; as feelings of Love towards our others; as creations and expressions of Beauty; as utter Delight in being alive; and as Timelessness, Infinity, Silence, and Goodness. Let's say that I am embarking on a project. At various points, I decide to evaluate the undertaking from each of the four planes. For example, I have obtained all the material resources required to get the work done - including machinery, funding, etc. Thus, the material view of things is in good order. However, when I consider the work from the vital standpoint, I realize that I have been unwilling to listen to others; that I guard my own entrenched view of things feverishly; and, in general, I am not very communicative. In addition, when I consider the social aspect, I realize that I have didn't really consider the impact of the project on the people who were working on it. These are additional vital aspects or parts at the social plane that haven't received proper attention. Then I consider the next plane up -- the mental. I wonder if the essential assumptions I have made about the phases of the project are accurate; or whether the completion date is reasonable; or whether its achievement will truly meet the goals and values of the company. Finally, there are the spiritual aspects to consider. For example, I wonder if I have been self-giving on the project; and whether I have demonstrated a level of gratitude towards others for the work they have done; and whether I have been calm and equal when big changes come, or when difficult situations arise. As I consider my reality from each of these planes -- material, vital, meant, and spiritual -- I begin to move out of the limited part view, and embrace the whole. Along the way, I even come to perceive the true Essence of the matter - including the true purpose of my undertaking has served; what it indicates for the future; even what it has brought out about my own character and what that means in terms of my future progress. As a result of making this effort, I acquire a more integral view of the things I am engaged in. Through my comprehensive understanding and knowledge, I become more aware of the multiplicity of truths I am grappling with, of the variety of factors that are at play in any given situation. This in turn gives me the knowledge power to make the right decisions that lead to powerful positive results. As I follow this thread and seek out the multiple dimensions of any matter, I begin to truly value the power of the Whole. Also, as I obtain vast positive results by acting on that knowledge, I feel a deep sense of fulfillment and joy in life. As a result, I am energized to no end, and eagerly look forward to the next challenge.   Untitled There is matter. Then there is animus of life that uses matter as its substance for motion and limited consciousness. Then there is mind which can control vital life and its subordinate matter. Finally, there is spirit through which silence and illumination and intuition of thought can bring about great understanding that can be used to control life that utilizes matter for action and results.   Each Plane Limited by Previous One Each plane (physical, vital, and mental) is limited by the limitations of the previous levels. E.g. Mind has a partial view because it is rooted in the ego sense of the vital, with its separateness and attachment to one thing over another.    Ultimately our limitations at each level are rooted in the very inconscience of our being which we inherit as beings in the universe.  Quality of Energy at Different Levels The quality of our energy rises ever higher from our physical to our vital/emotional to our mental to our spiritual consciousness. Physical energy expresses as urge. Vital energy is dynamism. Mental energy is curiosity. Higher mental energy is Silent understanding. Illumined mental energy is vision. The Intuitive mental energy has four subdivisions. 1. Suggestive energy. 2. Discriminatory insight. 3. Inspirational urge. 4. Revelatory call.  Overmental energy follows an issue to its uttermost possibility. Supramental energy is harmony that achieves transformation through descent on the parts of being that offer surrender. (MSS) ARTICLE on the planes and Sublevels that Makeup the Individual   Wizard of Oz Symbolism in Terms of Personal Growth The human individual consists of a body, a vital/emotional dimension, and a mind. Some would argue the person also can have access to the spirit. So there are four dimensions of the human. In the Wizard of Oz we can see how these are each represented. The physical (body) is represented by the cowardly lion, who needs to overcome his fear and develop strength of being; the vital/emotional center is represented by the tin man, who comes to discover heart and feeling; and the straw man represents the mind (i.e. the desire for intelligence). The wizard himself is the spirit. (He is a phony on one sense, yet is truly wise in that he is able to give fulfillment to all of the others (e.g. he gives feeling to the tin man). Dorothy represents the individual in life trying to raise and integrate all these elements of one's consciousness (physical, emotional, mental, spiritual), enabling wholeness and fulfillment in life. These individuals she meets along the way are the steps in that process. When she returns home she realizes that her (semi-conscious) quest to integrate her person has been achieved, and that in fact she could have (ironically) fulfilled them at home in the first place if she knew how. I.e. if one is conscious, there is no place to go to find the fulfillment of these elements on the outside because all of them can be found where one already is from within from a status of higher consciousness. It is also interesting to note that she discovers these elements of her being through her quest, which is initiated by a series of negative situations and circumstance, which mirrors how often in life we are moved to a higher level of awareness through life's painful and difficult situations and events. Essential to Know Physical, Vital, Mental Understanding physical, vital, and mental planes is an essential knowledge of Sri Aurobindo's that can put everything in the right framework.  [MSS comments: Worth writing in GOLD] INTERVIEW that Asks and Answers the Question "Who Am I?" In this extensive six-part interview Roy Posner, President of Growth Online, asks a fundamental question of existence, "Who am I?," and then comes up with some unconventional answers which reveal the vast scope of our human makeup and potential.   How the Physical, the Vital, and the Mental Know The physical knows through reception of sense data, sensations, that arise from within the body, are generated by our thought processes, or impinge on us from outside. The vital knows through direct, subconscious perception of vital energies that arise from the body or the mind or impinge on us from outside, such as the subtle sensibility that people may refer to as a hunch or gut feeling. So too, the mind knows through formulation of thoughts, reception of thoughts arising from the subconscious physical and vital, descending from higher levels, or impinging on us from outside. The physical and vital "know" things directly as a recognized contact with vibratory energy, without need for the intermediacy of thought. But for mental knowledge, the vibratory impact needs normally to be translated into thought forms intelligible to the mental understanding. (MSS) MSS Articles on Makeup of the Individual Nine Levels Levels of Personality One to Nine Planes and Parts of the Being Thoughts on the Ways We Express Our Negativity   Physical (Body) (top) Definition and Purpose of the Physical Definition and Functioning of the Physical Plane of the Individual Definition: The subconscious awareness and impulses of the body expressed in animal instincts, basic drives of human nature, and inherited character traits. The primary drives of the physical are for self-preservation and reproduction.  Functioning: It is (1) that which gives us material form, our raw physical existence, consisting of matter; (2) it is where our movements originate; (3) it is the seat of our physical urges and sensations, and (4) it is where the body learns how to act, i.e. where it learns the primary skills needed for existence.   Nature of the Physical The Physical Consciousness The physical [consciousness, plane, aspect represented in us as our physical bodies] is normally obscure, inert, impervious to the Light. It is a thing of habits, very largely a slave of the subconscient and its mechanical reactions. (Sri Aurobindo) Instincts of Material Existence -The predominant instincts of material existence are self-preservation, self-repetition, and self-multiplication. -The bodily life wants to persist, not progress, repeat not enlarge. (Paraphrase of Sri Aurobindo) Going Beyond the Physical's Need to Repeat The physical can repeat, only repeat. Does anyone want things to be repeated? Not only in Life Divine, is it possible in innovation, creativity, or in new computer programmes? The physical's birthright is repetition. Evolution's prerogative is NOT to repeat once. But the luminous Imperative REPEATS to conquer the dark imperative. (pg. 962, The Life Divine)  (MSS) The Relationship of Body and Mind -The body obeys the mind automatically in those things in which it is formed or trained to obey it, but the relation of the body to the mind is not in all things that of an automatic instrument. The body also has a consciousness of its own and, though it is a submental instrument o servant consciousness, it can disobey or fail to obey as well. In many things in matters of health and illness for instance, in all automatic functionings, the body acts on its own and is not the servant of mind's will. It can cloud the mind with tamas, inertia, dullness, fumes of the subconscient so that the mind cannot act. -When you first ask the body to draw a straight line or to play music, it can't do it and won't do it. It has to be schooled, trained, taught, and afterwards it does automatically what is required of it. All this proves that there is a body-consciousness which can do things at the mind's order, but has to be awakened, trained, made a good and conscious instrument. (Sri Aurobindo, Letters on Yoga)   When the Body Acts it Acts Perfectly The body refuses to begin unless it understands fully. When it understands fully, it does not wait for a minute and its execution is flawless. In that sense, the body is real, and body alone is real. Mind thinks of alternatives, weighs the consequences, chooses and acts. Choosing arises as the knowledge has two alternatives before it. Choosing one, one chooses a part. A part is always partial. Its result too is partial. The body does not choose one out of the two alternatives. Its knowledge is total. It awaits for total knowledge, refusing to act till then. It acts when the total knowledge arises. Its results are total. Not three out of five are right; the five are right. The experienced shop assistant weighing a kilo of sugar does not adjust the quantity of sugar in the balance. He takes the weight once. It is exactly a kilo. The cook taking a quantity of salt for sambar finds his hand taking the exact quantity. We see an experienced typist not looking at the keys while typing. That happens when his mental understanding sinks deeper down and reaches the very cells of the body. (MSS, rearranged) When the Body Acts Mother says body understands at the moment when it is ready for action. Till every cell acquires the knowledge the body does not understand. The moment the last cell completes receiving the knowledge, body acts instantaneously. (MSS)   Thoughts on the Limiting Aspects of our Habitual Nature Individual Planes of the Physical Body Planes of the Physical (Body) from Highest to Lowest Mental in Physical -- This is the consciousness of the body, where it learns how to act, where it learns the primary skills needed for existence and action from movement. It is the center of our physical skills. Vital in Physical -- This is the seat of our physical urges and sensations. It is where nervous sensation, pain, physical urge, hunger, lust, craving, physical possessiveness, and territoriality are rooted. Pure Physical -- This is the pure physical, the body itself, our raw physical existence, consisting of matter. It is also where our movements originate. ARTICLE and Diagram that Includes the Physical Planes on the Vertical Scale of Human Consciousness Inner Physical on the Horizontal Scale Whereas there is expression of the being on the vertical scale of consciousness. There is also the expression of the physical in the horizontal scale of consciousness. The Inner Physical (of the Subliminal) on the Horizontal Scale of Consciousness     Breaking the Reigns of the Physical Consciousness The Physical Consciousness Evolution of Man of Planes of Consciousness In the evolution of man he has evolved from the physical to the vital to the mental consciousness. The spiritual lies beyond. Physical Consciousness Man's lowest consciousness is expressed in his physical consciousness, aka his "physicality." That physicality expresses not only as brutality, but as unconsciousness, inertia, unwillingness to change, anachronistic tendencies, inflexibility, lack of tolerance and openness, a material only view of the world, expression of ego, ritualistic religion, etc. The Physical Consciousness The physical consciousness of that of habits, repetition, unwillingness to changed, fixed -- like matter itself. The Physical Consciousness The physical consciousness is fixed, rigid, unwilling to change, unfeeling, unthinking. Our Physical Consciousness The unconsciousness, the inconscience in matter reflected in our bodies indicates our physical consciousness that is of an unchanging, resisting nature. Positive Way Out of Our Physicality A positive way out of our physicality is worth finding. The Physical Consciousness The physical [consciousness, plane, aspect represented in us as our physical bodies] is normally obscure, inert, impervious to the Light. It is a thing of habits, very largely a slave of the subconscient and its mechanical reactions. (Sri Aurobindo) We say habits are rooted in our physical consciousness because physical things tend not to want to change; just go on and repeat ad infinitum, as in a habit. Physical consciousness, Subconscient Effect, Transformation The physical consciousness and the subconscient try to bring us down when we try to rise up. Ultimately we must go within to the Subliminal, which opens to the Superconscient reality to tame and transform the subconscient. Then, when we make the effort to move up, we will stay up.   Also See Thoughts on the Physical-Oriented Individual   Breaking Down the Physical Consciousness Becoming Conscious by Pulverizing the Physical Consciousness People don't normally become more conscious directly, but are first physically and psychologically pulverized by life. Breaking Down the Physical Consciousness The part of us that is most resistant to change, that expresses the harshest physical consciousness of force and ego is pulverized by life until it breaks down. How the Physical Consciousness Breaks Down The harsh physical consciousness breaks down through accident, illness, and disease. The Physical Consciousness and the Individual The individual and the various forms of the collective express consciousness from lowest to highest. The lowest is the physical consciousness, which is the expression of inertia, unwillingness to change, brutality, attachment to falsehood, religious and social dogma, anachronistic tendencies, etc. Nature expresses itself to overcome that physical consciousness through natural disasters and calamities, by being attacked in war, and in other forms, down to the individual expression who experiences it through anger, irritation, and annoyance. There are various gradations for the collective and the individual. Nature Purges Man's Physicality Man's lowest consciousness is expressed in his physical consciousness, aka his "physicality." That physicality expresses not only as brutality, but as unconsciousness, inertia, unwillingness to change, anachronistic tendencies, inflexibility, lack of tolerance and openness, a material only view of the world, expression of ego, ritualistic religion, etc. Nature breaks the physicality of nations when those peoples experience natural disaster, when the nation is attacked by another, and in other ways. Nature, as an instrument of a Higher Consciousness (the Spirit), enables that people to progress to a higher consciousness through such negative means. The same occurs for individuals, through the difficulties of life. A higher approach to progress is through conscious self-awareness, through rationality and spirit. the progress of man through Soul instead of the difficult path of Nature is the future that awaits man. Limitation of Physical Consciousness The force of habit blocks movements within, and opening to the Force. It is the unconsciousness, the inconscience in matter reflected in our bodies as a physical consciousness of an unchanging, resisting nature. Even this unevolved bedrock of limitation can be overcome as a logical outcome of our ascent, progress, evolution, and transformation. Also see thoughts on how Nature overcomes the Physical consciousness of Man Also See Thoughts on War and Other Disasters that Purges Low Physical Consciousness   Vital (top) It's Nature, Purpose, and Planes Definition of the Vital The vital is the Life-nature made up of the desires, sensations, feelings, passions, energies of action, will of desire, reactions of the desire soul in man and of all that play of possessive and other related instincts, anger, fear, greed, lust, etc. that belongs to the field of nature.  (Sri Aurobindo, Letters on Yoga) Definition and Functioning of the Vital Plane of the Individual Definition: The semi-conscious sensations, urges, desires, feelings, emotions, and attitudes. The vital provides the energy for human action and expresses itself through attraction, liking, desire and enthusiasm. Functioning: It (1) is where we experience the vital sensation of the central nervous system, our primal urges, desires, and fears; (2) where we experience our feelings, emotions, and passions of life; and (3) is where the emotions are processed into emotional thought, i.e. into the emotions' perception of knowledge, and it is where our attitudes, our life intelligence, and higher emotions reside. Planes of the Vital from Highest to Lowest in the Vertical Scale Mental in Vital -- This is where emotions (of the next level) are processed into emotional thought, the emotions' perception of knowledge. It is where our attitudes, life intelligence, and higher emotions lie. It is the center of our vital skills. Pure Vital -- This is where our feelings, emotions, passion, enthusiasm reside. Physical in Vital -- This is where we experience the vital sensation of the nerves, the central nervous system, where we experience urge, desire, and fear. Nature of the Vital The sensations, desires, wants, feelings, emotions, and attitudes are part of the vital nature. Vital in Terms of Physical and Mental Nature The vital nature evolved out of the physical nature, and evolved into the mental nature. Physical Vital Evolves to Vital Proper The urge to interact with others beyond one's self moved the vital consciousness of the human from its physical basis to the vital proper. (Paraphrase of Sri Aurobindo) Vital Man in Action The vital man expresses his emotions, his frustrations, and his wants and desires, oblivious to the facts.   Emotion is Born in the Human Sensation is primary, is of the animal. Emotion is of the heart, is born only in the human being. (MSS) ARTICLE and Diagram that Includes the Vital Planes on the Vertical Scale of Human Consciousness   The Vital Nature The Vital Nature -The vital nature can express positively or negatively, and shades in between. -An individual is an amalgam of positive and vital propensities. -Through personal growth, evolution, and transformation one grows out of the vital negative into positive expressions of the vital.   Lower vs. Higher Vital Nature We can think of the lower vital nature vs. a harmonious pure vital. The former is of desire, wants, attachments, the latter is of higher emotion, goodness, and sensitivity. The former is born of our animal nature, the latter is an effluence of a nascent spiritual nature. (This is not along the vertical scale of the vital, but on a non-harmonious vs. harmonious vital nature overall.)   Man's Mentality Man's mentality is mostly a slave to his lower vital and physical nature. It is not pure mentality.   Thought is Superior to Emotion Emotions are rich. Their reason is flawless, unerring. Some people speak of their emotional intuition which never fails. Still, Mind is superior to the emotions, but has no unfailing perception of men or events. In a group of emotional men, one who thinks, who is clear-headed, will be suspect. He will never be in favour. This is because emotions are understandable by others, while thought or ideas are not. Also, emotions cannot be insincere while Mind can be insincere. Therefore, emotions are always valued, valued more than thoughts, in spite of the mind's superiority. A mental man never expresses his emotions, always keeps them under control. When he is moved by emotion, it is a great moment in his life. On the other hand, there are uneducated, unformed people who are incapable of thought. You cannot hold a serious discussion with them. If they do not understand, they will fly into a rage or if they are weak, they will break down. They too are emotional. The certitude that the South had in the Civil War in their cause of defending slavery matured into an emotional faith, almost into a physical passion. They believed they would certainly win, [even though the North was superior in every economic measure, and in numbers]. How on earth MAN can ever arrive at such a conclusion, only their emotions know. Their conviction was absolute. Their defeat too was absolute. When we are faced with a situation that demands reason, we can see that our emotions egg us on to a certitude. We must listen to Reason, and go beyond even that to the Spirit. (MSS, somewhat modified)   See Entries for a Variety of Negative Human Expressions (which are Mostly Vital)   (The Vital on the Horizontal Scale)   The Inner Mind and Vital The realms of the inner mind and the inner vital that make up the subliminal have a larger, subtler, freer consciousness than the outer mental and vital nature that we normally experience. When we experience life on the surface, the inner mind and vital have a deeper perception of what is going on at that moment. It sends these messages to our surface consciousness, which we can utilize for right understanding, perception, insight, and decision making.   The Inner Vital (of the Subliminal) on the Horizontal Scale of Consciousness   Mental (top) Definition and Purpose of Mind   Definition of Mind The "Mind" in the ordinary use of the word covers indiscriminately the whole consciousness, for man is a mental being and mentalises everything; but in the language of this yoga the words "mind" and "mental" are used to connote specially the part of the nature which has to do with cognition and intelligence, with ideas, with mental or thought perceptions, the reaction of thought to things, with the truly mental movements and formations, mental vision and will, etc., that are part of the intelligence. (Sri Aurobindo, Letters on Yoga)   What Mind Consists of Mind consist of the thoughts, opinions, beliefs, ideas and values that guide our conscious thinking, conceptualizing and decision-making processes.   Faculties of Mind The faculties of Mind are memory, thinking, understanding, suggestion, discrimination, inspiration, revelation, conception, perception, sensation, imagination, decision, determination, commitment, organisation, planning, remembering, recalling, recognising, responsibility, direction and many more things.   Function of Mind The mind is an instrumental entity or instrumental consciousness whose function is to think and perceive. (Sri Aurobindo, Letters on Yoga)   The Nature of Mind   The Faculties of Mind: Expressed Positive & Negative -We know the faculties of Mind -- memory, thinking, understanding, suggestion, discrimination, inspiration, revelation, conception, perception, sensation, imagination, decision, determination, commitment, organisation, planning, remembering, recalling, recognising, responsibility, direction and many more things. -Each of the faculties have two ways of responding high and low. E.g. understanding can be exercised to reinforce your past gains. It is lower. Understanding can be exercised to acquire new ideas. It is high. In fact, any faculty has infinite ways of functioning -- social, personal, psychological, etc. etc. -- and each has the two ways of cleavage. Hence the choice is of paramount significance. (MSS)   The Nature of Mind Mind is an instrument of division. Whenever an object is presented to it, it looks at one part of it and dissects that part out of the whole and entirely confines itself to the part, considering that part to be the whole. (MSS) Untitled The mind accepts one truth out of all truths, and asserts that truth as the whole. And it's because our minds are normally rooted in the prejudicial nature of the vital consciousness, which asserts its separateness, its ego, and, therefore, its prejudicial predilection to the facts.   Mind's Capacity for Aggregation, & that Expression in Life Mind's capacity for endless subdivision is complemented by its capacity for continuous aggregation. Mind has the ability to combine any number of smaller wholes and view them as the parts of larger wholes. Mind has the ability to combine any number of smaller wholes and view them as the parts of larger wholes. Thus, electrons, protons and neutrons combine to form atoms, atoms combine to form molecules, molecules unit to constitute organelles, cells, organs and living organisms. Thus, individuals, families, communities, castes, classes, professions, sexes, ethnic and religious groups combine to form nations and the international community. We construct organizations along the same pattern, be they the organizations for governance, business, education or even religion. (MSS) Man's Mentality Man's mentality is mostly a slave to his lower vital and physical nature. It is not pure mentality. On Ego Ego reinforces the exclusive nature of mind, causing us to see but a part of the whole truth, vastly limiting our effectivity in life. To overcome ego we need to move into the depths of our being, where separateness is shed as we connect to the universal forces and powers. Man Has Moved Toward Mental-Based Life A thousand years ago man was physical. His life was elementary. He survived. Today he has multiplied his comforts, enjoyment, reach, mastery a hundred or even a thousand-fold. The progress in one millennium has been phenomenal. This occurred because man moved from being physical to being mental. Though he has not yet acquired a fully formed mental life, a rational life, certainly he has moved away from the physical to the vital life. Both body and vitality accept the guidance of the mind, at least in material matters. Thus, we can say that man today is mental. (MSS) Purpose of Mind and Vital (from the Mother's Agenda Volume 9, p 159)   "According to what I see now, it seems to me that the Mind has been the instrument needed to make the transition from unconsciousness to consciousness, that is, to make this Matter capable of receiving consciousness. But it will slowly be either transformed or eliminated.   The same thing with the Vital. The Vital took a very bad turn, of course; it's the Vital that has contained all the adverse forces and all difficulties. Well, it's the same thing: it was the first means to pull Matter out of the Inconscient. But once it has done its work ... we might say (smiling), we'll do without these two scoundrels! There's an experience (an experience Sri Aurobindo had constantly): there is an  Intelligence highly superior to the Mind, which has nothing to do with the Mind. An "intelligence of things" ... And that's why he called his new creation "supramental." He always used to describe it as a perfect understanding of things."   Thought is Superior to Emotion Emotions are rich. Their reason is flawless, unerring. Some people speak of their emotional intuition which never fails. Still, Mind is superior to the emotions, but has no unfailing perception of men or events. In a group of emotional men, one who thinks, who is clear-headed, will be suspect. He will never be in favour. This is because emotions are understandable by others, while thought or ideas are not. Also, emotions cannot be insincere while Mind can be insincere. Therefore, emotions are always valued, valued more than thoughts, in spite of the mind's superiority. A mental man never expresses his emotions, always keeps them under control. When he is moved by emotion, it is a great moment in his life. On the other hand, there are uneducated, unformed people who are incapable of thought. You cannot hold a serious discussion with them. If they do not understand, they will fly into a rage or if they are weak, they will break down. They too are emotional. The certitude that the South had in the Civil War in their cause of defending slavery matured into an emotional faith, almost into a physical passion. They believed they would certainly win, [even though the North was superior in every economic measure, and in numbers]. How on earth MAN can ever arrive at such a conclusion, only their emotions know. Their conviction was absolute. Their defeat too was absolute. When we are faced with a situation that demands reason, we can see that our emotions egg us on to a certitude. We must listen to Reason, and go beyond even that to the Spirit. (MSS, somewhat modified) The Relationship of Body and Mind -The body obeys the mind automatically in those things in which it is formed or trained to obey it, but the relation of the body to the mind is not in all things that of an automatic instrument. The body also has a consciousness of its own and, though it is a submental instrument o servant consciousness, it can disobey or fail to obey as well. In many things in matters of health and illness for instance, in all automatic functionings, the body acts on its own and is not the servant of mind's will. It can cloud the mind with tamas, inertia, dullness, fumes of the subconscient so that the mind cannot act. -When you first ask the body to draw a straight line or to play music, it can't do it and won't do it. It has to be schooled, trained, taught, and afterwards it does automatically what is required of it. All this proves that there is a body-consciousness which can do things at the mind's order, but has to be awakened, trained, made a good and conscious instrument. (Sri Aurobindo, Letters on Yoga) MSS Article: Mind the Organiser On Logic and Being Human -Logic is an impersonal system of thought, transcending humanity. -Logic distinguishes us from animals not by humanity but by impersonality. (MSS) On Reason Reason is the intermediary between the instincts/impulses of the life-mind and the higher intuitive character of spiritual mind. (Paraphrase of Sri Aurobindo) How Thought Arises When the mental activity is separated from the input of the senses, thought is born. (MSS)   The Subliminal Being -It contains the inner/subtle mind, vital, and physical, which are of a higher consciousness and substance then their outer manifestations. -It sends up positive influences to our surface consciousness, which we are unconscious of. -It is continually impacted by the Superconscient (the forces and powers of universal, spiritual planes).   The Planes of Mind   Vertical and Horizontal Planes of Mind Mind can be seen in scales across a vertical and horizontal planes. Along the vertical scale there is the mind of the body and of the life functionings, and above that the mind we commonly know. It ranges from pure processing of fact to emotionalization of ideas (e.g. ideals and values) to rational thinking. Above that is the spiritualized mind of illuminations, intuitions, and knowledge by identity.   Along the horizontal scale we have a range from mind on the surface (Sense mind) to mind in the depths (subliminal mind.) The higher up on he vertical scale and the deeper within on the horizontal scale, the more conscious mind is. It is most conscious at the supramental plane (knowledge by identify) on the vertical scale, and in the deepest depths of the subliminal in the soul/psychic being on the horizontal scale.   Planes of Mind The highest aspect of mind is pure, conceptual mind, i.e. mind proper, below that is the vital mind, and below that still is physical mind. These are the outer mind. There is also an inner subtle mind with even greater powers. Planes of Mind from Highest to Lowest Pure Mental (Thinking Mind, Conceptual Mind, Mind Proper) -- This is where pure thinking, conceptual thinking takes place; where ideas are organized; concepts, ideas, possibilities are developed. There is no connection here to the senses of the body here as perceived in the sense mind below. It is pure thought. It is the center of our mental skills. Vital in Mental -- This is where we gain a knowledge of life's workings; where the practical organized knowledge and comprehension of facts of level 3 is imbued with the emotions and feelings that turn organized comprehension into our interests, opinions, sentiments, beliefs, values, and ideals. Physical in Mental -- The processing, organizing, systemizing of physical, natural, practical facts of information from the senses into understanding, comprehension, and knowledge, used for decision-making, action, and accomplishment. Vertical and Horizontal Scales of Mind   Levels of Mind-- There is the physical, vital, and mental planes of the individual. Each of these can be subdivided into at least three more levels. At the first level where thoughts are processed into ideas; at a still higher level where thoughts are turned into sentiments, values, and ideals; and higher still where he engages in reason, pure thought, and can conceptualize new ideas, and that which he wishes to be.  (We are not including the ranges of spiritual mind here.)   Limitations of Sense-Based Mind -- There is another range of mind from outer to inner; with the outer sense mind being least conscious, and the inner of the highest order. This is a horizontal scale of mind. The least conscious element of mind on the horizontal scale is the sense-based mind, involved in the interpretation of data provided by the senses. When we live on the surface, we are focused primarily in sense-based mind, rather than the higher rational, pure thinking mind, thus limiting our view of the world. Instincts of Pure Mind, Mental Life Pure (Conceptual) Mind's proper instincts are change, self-enlargement and self-improvement. It has faith in perfectibility, and its watchword is progress. Pure mental life concentrates on the aesthetic, the ethical, the intellectual. Mentality is idealistic a seeker after perfection. (Paraphrase of Sri Aurobindo) Mind Proper  (Pure Mental, Thinking Mind) Normal mind, what we call "mind proper," is pretty good at fthinking. It also has the ability to develop insights from those facts. However, it generally fails at discovering the greater, true truths; the unmasking and revealing of any great, ultimate truths and conclusions about the object of inquiry. Thinking Mind Used for Vital Needs in Current Man The thinking mind does not [unfortunately] lead man, does not influence them the most -- it is the vital propensities and the vital mind that predominate. The thinking mind with most men is, in matters of life, only an instrument of the vital. (Sri Aurobindo, Letters on Yoga) Physical Mind (Physical in Mental) The physical mind is that part of the mind which is concerned with the physical things only -- it depends on the sense-mind, sees only objects, external actions, draws its ideas from the data given by external things, infers from them only and know no other Truth unless it is enlightened from above. (Sri Aurobindo, Letters on Yoga) ARTICLE and Diagram that Includes the Mental Planes on the Vertical Scale of Human Consciousness Reason Becomes Intuition Shedding Senses The mind consists of a part that interprets the inputs of the body's senses. The mind also consists of the capacity for logic and self-conceiving new ideas, new possibilities, etc. As the mind moves away from its connection to the senses, it utilizes its higher mental functionings, and beyond that functionings of spiritual mind. Knowledge from spiritual mind comes through silence which enables knowledge to spring forth, through illuminations and lights of knowledge, and through descents of the entire object of knowledge as intuitions.   When one lives more within from the depths of our being, less connected to the surface, the senses, we open ourselves to intuitions form the higher planes, giving us direct perception of the object of knowledge.    The Inner Mind Inner Mind is that which lies behind the surface mental level (our ordinary mentality) and can only be directly experienced (apart from its vrttis in the surface mind such as philosophy, poetry, idealism, etc.) by spiritual development, by breaking down the habit of being on the surface and by going deeper within. (Sri Aurobindo, Letters on Yoga)   The Inner Mind and Vital The realms of the inner mind and the inner vital that make up the subliminal have a larger, subtler, freer consciousness than the outer mental and vital nature that we normally experience. When we experience life on the surface, the inner mind and vital have a deeper perception of what is going on at that moment. It sends these messages to our surface consciousness, which we can utilize for right understanding, perception, insight, and decision making.   The Inner Mind (of the Subliminal) on the Horizontal Scale of Consciousness   The Questioning Western Mind The Western mind questions because Mind thinks by questioning. Standing before knowledge questioning even in the shape of a doubt turns the questioner off. He is closed to knowledge. Supermind lies four levels beyond Silence. (MSS) Vital and Mental Perspective of Another's Deficiency Being (e.g.) bothered by another person's over-opinionated nature vs. the perception of the same through the instrument of pure thought devoid of emotion are two different perspectives of the same thing. In the first, rooted in the vital, you closely associate your emotion to aspects of one's being that are unconscious, while the later, rooted in the mind, is a step closer to the real and whole truth. Yet even the latter is a partial view in that if one developed the broader Spiritual capacity and view of the Whole, one might not be concerned with the limitations of another in the first place. One would see each moment in life in relationship to a wider Whole. Spirit Fulfills Mind's Ideals The ideals Mind seeks are fulfilled in the spiritual existence. (Paraphrase of Sri Aurobindo) Mind's Original Capacity, its Descent into Ignorance, and Its Liberation Mind is of Supermind which has the vision of the whole. Mind being a part of it has the ability to see one part of the whole at one time and can see the other part if it chooses. This is the original capacity of Mind. When it refuses to see the other side, Ignorance is born which is more and more organised as below. -Mind's identifying with itself is to make the Ignorance entrenched. -It can identify itself with its workings at a further stage. -The identification can be extended to life and Matter where Ignorance is full.  The liberation of the Mind is a reverse process which can start at the mental plane. -Withdrawal from the identification of thoughts -- [which is] Silence. -Withdrawal from sense identification -- [which is] Pure faculties of Mind. -Withdrawal from Mind, life, Matter are the further stages. (MSS) Mind Perceives Succession of Events, not Process of Development The human mind perceives whatever has happened so far, i.e. development as a set of events, rather than a process which is continuous. Human mind is not conscious about the way that development process is happening and how the human being himself/herself is contributing to this process. Mind's Origins in Supermind and Spirit -Spirit is the subjective experience of Sat. -Supermind is the nature of Sachchidananda where Truth acquires consciousness of the comprehensive vast rhythm of existence. -Mind is born when Supermind splits into Time and Timeless planes between them. -The knowledge and will into which Mind divides itself enables knowledge to work on will releasing a plane of energy which is life. -In the process of knowledge working on will, a little of that knowledge is lost. When all the knowledge is lost, life becomes Matter. (MSS)   Spirit Overcomes the Need for Time to Organize Life Time is used by mind to organize life for one's own self, and for our relation with others and the environment. Spirit overcomes the need for time to organize our existence.   Also See the following additional topics: Additional Thoughts on the Origins of the Nature of Mind in the Evolution The Nature of: Understanding | Thought & Thinking | Reason | Logic | Insight | Rationality, Objectivity | Truth | Knowledge | Memory | Values | Genius   Spiritual/Spiritual Mind (top) Spiritual Mind Spiritual Mind Spiritual mind is the realm of consciousness beyond sense-based mind, and even beyond the rational mind. It is the mind of light, of illumination, of vision, and ultimately of intuition. Spiritual Mind By spiritual mind, we are referring to the very highest faculties of mind. It is a realm of our being that borders and interfaces with the pure spirit. It is where knowledge enters our minds without the churning thought processing of mind, but where understanding and right thought comes through silence, or higher still through descents of thought as light of knowledge (as in Archimedes famous statement "Eureka, I've Got It," or higher still through descents of intuitions of knowledge into our minds without the need for any thought at all. Above spiritual mind is the universal consciousness and pure spirit from which is the source of all knowledge. Mind vs. Spirit The mind is an instrumental entity or instrumental consciousness whose function is to think and perceive -- the spirit is an essential entity or consciousness which does not need to think or perceive either in the mental or sensory way, because whatever knowledge it has is direct or essential knowledge. (Sri Aurobindo, Letters on Yoga) Spiritual Mind Overview Sri Aurobindo explains that there are level of spiritual mind beyond our normal minds; beyond mind proper. There is an ascending scale of mentality that starts with the lower fact-gathering and sense-based mind, that rises higher to that part of mind that expresses sentiments and values, rises higher still to the rational, objective pure mind we have been discussing, and then finally breaks through to spiritual mind. It is in spiritual mind that we have experiences of knowledge through silence, light and illumination and vision, and intuition. It is in those realms that the object of knowledge that we pursue simply drops into our minds without the hard thought-churning processes of mind proper. From these levels of mind we simply know that which we want to know. When we have the intuition, then the information, the object of knowledge we wish to know, enters our mind in full, with all of its details. Opening Up the Ranges of Spiritual Mind ... there are several ranges of consciousness between the ordinary human mind and the supramental Truth-Consciousness. [These are the ranges of spiritual mind. -Ed.] These intervening ranges have to be opened up and their power brought down into the mind, life and body. Only afterwards can the full power of the Truth-Consciousness work in the nature. (Sri Aurobindo) Spiritual Mind 2 Above mind proper is spiritual mind where we experience thought in Silence, knowledge as light, illuminations, visions, and intuitions. Above that is the supramental truth consciousness, where we know all and from which we create all. Spiritual Mind 2 (other) From spiritual mind knowledge comes as sudden sparks of light, as in the famous expression "Eureka, I've got it." Or it comes as inner visions, or, ultimately as intuitions of knowledge, where the object of knowledge that we are trying to know simply drops into one's brain. Spiritual Mind Whereas mind proper comprehends the object of a knowledge via an intelligible idea, Higher Mind comprehends by silent observation or reception of the situation, Illumined Mind comprehends the object of knowledge when the idea becomes a vision or light, Intuitive Mind comprehends the object of knowledge through direct communication without the intermediaries of energy, idea, silence or light, and Supermind perceives the object of knowledge by having the object of knowledge within, by being the object, as soon as it tries to comprehend the knowledge, without the need for any communication from the object of knowledge.   Planes of Spiritual Mind from Highest to Lowest Supermind -- The object of knowledge just appears inside one's mind; one is the creator of the knowledge from seemingly out of nothing; i.e. one is the knowledge. Knower, knowledge, and knowing are one. Intuitive Mind -- The object of knowledge just descends into the mind, without any thought. Illumined Mind  -- Knowledge comes as descents of light and illumination. Thought is replaced in those moments through vision. Higher Mind  -- Thought occurs in the framework of inner silence.   Ever Increasing Subtlety of Mind Our growth is to move from the empirical, measurable physical data supplied by sense mind to the subtle mind of purer thought, logic, ideas, devoid of sense. Beyond that you can move to even greater subtlety experiencing the Silence in mind; a silence in in the mind's faculties of observation, thinking, understanding, and observation. Beyond that one moves to greater subtleties still, where thought itself is abandoned as knowledge descends through light, illumination, and intuitions of objects of knowledge. Beyond such ultimate subtleties one comes upon the causal plane of Supermind where there is knowledge by identity, where the object is simply there in one's self as creator, where life responds in instantaneous abundance.   Supermental Knowledge Beyond spiritual mind is the ultimate truth consciousness of supermind. In supermind, when we want to know anything, including anything that we did not know before, it simply appears in our minds in total, in full, from out of nowhere. In that sense we seem to create it.   Untitled The mind can individually see the possibilities, the evolutionary imperative, and the actualities in life. To have the supramental truth consciousness enables us to see these in their integral oneness. (Paraphrase of MSS)   Spirit is More Powerful than Mind As the mind is more powerful than the body, the Spirit is more powerful than the mind. Once you believe, intensify that belief into faith by comprehending the superior nature of Spirit as you have witnessed in your life. (MSS)   Mind, Spirit, and Power Mind is a great instrument, the greatest instrument we are endowed with. Mind becomes destructive when it acts on its own. Mind becomes an instrument of creation, a great instrument at that when it subordinates itself to its ORIGIN, the Spirit. Relying on the Mind, insisting on our ideas, on our capacity to plan is our undoing. Mind's ideas are powerful, its planning is effective when they are sanctioned by the inner Spirit and fully endorsed in its validity. It is NOT Reason that achieves, but Spirit through inner Silence. Cease to Reason, you will end in Spirit. Ceasing to Reason, you are ushered into Silence, which is the atmosphere of the Inner Spirit. Spirit is the seat of true everlasting Power. (MSS)