What Are the Various Planes of Existence?
Planes of Existence Explained
Planes of existence are considered the subjective, sensory, nested environments that we experience once we’re tuned to a specific vibrational frequency. They’re like the rooms we inhabit while in a dimension, often referring to as the look and feel or experience of an environment. Essentially, the higher the plane of existence, the greater the ratio of love/light or light/love (environmental density) and speed at which light vibrates (vibrational frequency). Could this mean light would behave more like a wave rather than a particle? Planes typically correspond to the types of bodies that function there. Ergo, subtle astral planes are conducive for subtle astral bodies.
Consider this fellow souls. We resonate with the concept that each of us carries an invisible signature, blueprint, or vibratory pattern, known as our overall vibrational frequency. Our overall vibrational frequency is considered the sum total of our thoughts, desires, motivations, and will — which is expressed by our crown energy centers. When we die or drop our material bodies, it’s suggested that we either magnetically attract or unconsciously manifest the plane of existence that matches our overall vibrational frequency — like attracts like, based on the Law of Attraction. Ergo, if we’ve lived in a constant state of separation, we could experience planes of isolation after death. If we’ve lived in a constant state of fear, we could experience planes of terror after death.
The Law of One (17:35-38) explains that there are an infinite number of levels or planes — adhering to a fractal-like approach. Our research suggests there are three main types of planes of existence which make up the entire material universe experience: causal planes, subtle astral planes, and the gross physical planes. The important thing to note about these planes of existence is that none of them are permanent nor do we reside in them indefinitely. Per Buddhism traditions, when our karma runs out or the causes of our suffering are gone, we transverse a different plane of existence based on the karma we have left.
Gross Physical Planes
Gross physical planes would be considered the densest planes of matter and our current reality of existence. There entire nature is structured around the unique challenge of duality and the experience of limitation, which serves as a catalyst for the evolution of consciousness. These planes are primarily associated with entities of lower consciousness levels. However, an entity of any consciousness level could, in theory, traverse gross physical planes. They would just do so in different ways.
For example, entities of consciousness levels 1 and 2 can traverse as elements or using the gross physical body. Consciousness level 3 entities incarnate using the gross physical body, while consciousness level 4-7 entities are seen as conscious manipulators or temporary visitors, as explained by Autobiography of a Yogi (43:364). It’s suggested that these higher-consciousness entities can shift or lower their vibrational frequencies to temporarily become visible to us or even project their consciousness from subtle astral or causal bodies without physically incarnating.
On gross physical planes, life spans are limited by the gross physical body’s genetic, karmic, and environmental constraints. According to Autobiography of a Yogi (43: 359-360), physical death is characterized by the disappearance of breath, lose of consciousness of flesh, and the disintegration of fleshly cells. It further explains that entities incarnate into a dense, carbon-based body that’s exposed to countless dangers (43:356-357). The gross physical body is also the most susceptible to the negative influences of tamas (inertia and decay) and is the most difficult for us to utilize.
Gross physical planes are where entities strive for self-awareness, and where we make the fundamental choice between serving oneself (STS) or serving others (STO). These planes are heavily governed by material energy (para prakriti), linear space/time (Law of One, 41:20), the influence of the three gunas (sattva, rajas, and tamas), and veil of amnesia, leading to cycles of rebirth (Bhagavad Gita, 14:5-15). All observations, measurements, and physical laws are fixed within this framework. These planes include all tangible astronomical objects, planets, and galaxies.
On Earth, the primary plane is the surface of the planet, although it wouldn’t be out of the realm of possibility to think that some entities could be dwelling beneath the surface — such as Bigfoot. The Law of One (9:18-22) uses the term Bigfoot to describe former 3rd-density inhabitants of the now-destroyed planet Maldek who incarnated into 2nd-density human forms on Earth and now dwell within deep underground passageways.
Subtle Astral Planes
Subtle astral planes are considered intermediate planes between gross physical planes and causal planes. Ergo, they serve as the initial post-death planes for level 3 consciousness entities and are the natural planes of transition to level 4 consciousness. Could they also correspond to 5th density (wisdom) and 6th density (unity)? It’s suggested that the veil of amnesia is present but to a lesser degree. All entities are said to reside in subtle astral planes in accordance with their karma, according to Autobiography of a Yogi (43:359). Ergo, where we reside (heavenly versus nether regions) and where we can travel freely depends on our karma, consciousness level, and disposition of service — serving oneself (STS) versus serving others (STO), according to the Law of One (20:9).
Subtle astral planes are said to be composed of the subtle, flowing energy of the material universe. According to Autobiography of a Yogi (43:358), their substance is much finer than physical matter, often associated with prana (life force energy). This results in luminous raylike vegetables in the astral soils and nectar (ambrosia) flowing from fountains of light, as explained by the Law of One (43:21). Because subtle astral planes occupy higher dimensions than gross physical planes, they allow for non-linear movement and greater perception. Time is also said to be experienced differently — more fluid and subjective than space/time (Law of One, 41:20).
Subtle astral planes are usually categorized into seven distinct realms. These range from the dense, lower astral realms (populated by heavy, negative thought-forms) up to the luminous, higher astral realms (populated by benevolent guides and souls awaiting rebirth). Autobiography of a Yogi (43:354) explains that there are many astral stellar and solar systems, most of which maintain an even temperature like an eternal spring. It’s also suggested by Autobiography of a Yogi (43:354-355) that subtle astral planes are hundreds of times larger than gross physical planes and free from unwilling death, disease, weeds, bacteria, and insects.
Subtle astral planes can be traversed by entities of various consciousness levels. Could this include fairy-like or mermaid-like entities who’ve, more or less, recently come from Earth? The life span is said to be much longer than in gross physical planes — spanning 500 -1000 years, according to Autobiography of a Yogi (43:354). Life spans on subtle astral planes are determined by the strength of our desires and unresolved karma. Essentially, our subtle astral bodies are said to persist until the karma we’ve created is exhausted.
To transverse subtle astral planes, we typically use bodies made of subtler light and sustained directly by cosmic energy. While these bodies are considered fluid, shapeshifting, responsive to thought, and not subject to natural conditions (e.g. heat or cold), they’re still subject to pain. With no fixed natural laws in subtle astral planes, entities can use light to travel, intuition to recognize those dear to them, and thoughts to communicate, manifest objects, and materialize offspring and forms at will, according to Autobiography of a Yogi (43:356).
Causal Planes
Causal planes are considered the highest and subtlest planes of the material universe, lying just beneath the pure spiritual universe. They’re often called ideational planes or bliss planes, because they’re the planes of pure thought, knowledge, and the ultimate seed-form for the soul. Composed of pure ideas and thought-seeds, it’s like the subtle astral and gross physical planes exist as forms of consciousness or as the fusion between mind and matter (Autobiography of a Yogi, 43:361-362).
Causal planes could be considered where consciousness approaches vibrational perfection. Here, causal entities can assimilate knowledge and resolve the last seeds of karma before liberation, according to Autobiography of a Yogi (43:365). According to Swami Mukundananda (Bhakti Yog Saint & Yoga Teacher), they can also aid others in liberation (Bhagavad Gita, 8:16). These planes are dominated by the highest guna (sattva), and are the closest material manifestations of spiritual energy (love/light, para prakriti). They’re typically associated with the anandamaya kosha (bliss sheath), where consciousness is characterized by unconditioned joy (ananda).
Causal planes are said to transcend conventional space and linear time or space/time (Law of One, 41:20). They’re often described as operating in higher, non-spatial dimensions where perception is simultaneous and instantaneous. It’s thought that karma exists there as pure, unmanifested seeds of potential. Could these planes contain the blueprints and ideations for all lower planes? Life spans are said to be immense, with many entities remaining for thousands of years, according to Autobiography of a Yogi (43:363).
On causal planes we use our causal bodies, which are not visible forms but considered eternal, individualized blueprints or seed-atoms of the soul. They are the purest and most subtle of the three material bodies, containing the accumulated potential of all of our past experiences. Ergo, they’re the ultimate repository of all karma, samskaras (subtle impressions), and tendencies that create our gross physical and astral bodies. They’re also the last remaining bodies to escape before we merge with the sea of Spirit, according to Autobiography of a Yogi (43:362). Entities on causal planes are said to eat nothing but the manna of bliss.
Because the veil of amnesia and effects of maya are said to be dramatically reduced, entities have much greater freedom. They can effortlessly manifest their thoughts into instant reality, even skipping mentally from one location to another or creating universes. Ergo, causal desires are instantly fulfilled by perception alone (Autobiography of a Yogi, 43:361). Both death and rebirth on the causal plane are said to be through thought.