Through a mental sheath dimly

 

Some quotes from JMG. He´s not saying anything really "new" here, but it struck me that the system of different "bodies" can explain why humans can´t agree on anything related to religion or values/meanings (which are often also connected to religion). We simply don´t have the sixth sense (so to speak) to perceive these things in an absolutely "objective" way. Our "mental sheaths" can pick up values/meaning dimly, and we see the higher divine realities only through our present limited senses - and only if the "angels" decide to show themselves to us. An angel, I suppose, will always be misunderstood, hence "pluralism" in religion...at least for the next aeon! Which means that we have to work out some way to live together despite differences in values, meanings and religions...

>>>As for the mental body, why, each body has a wider context than denser bodies. At material birth we separate from the mother’s material body; at etheric birth we separate from the etheric matrix of our family; at astral birth we separate from the astral groupmind of our culture, and at mental birth — which of course most human beings don’t achieve — we separate from the mental environment of our species.

>>>Terms like "the astral world" get used in varying senses in different occult teachings, so let's cover some basics first. In the system I work with, there are seven planes of manifestation to which human souls potentially have access, and at this stage in our evolution we can only access four of them -- the material plane, the etheric plane, the astral plane, and the mental plane. The material plane is the world of matter and energy, the etheric plane is the world of life force, the astral plane is the world we experience in dreams and imagination, and the mental plane -- which we're just beginning to experience -- appears to us as meanings, intentions, and values. Incarnate humans have a material body, an etheric body, an astral body, and a mental sheath -- this latter isn't quite an independent body yet, which is why we only have glimpses of the mental plane. Okay? Now we can proceed.

>>>So if you want to rise out of the cycle of death and rebirth, any system of sustained spiritual practice will do that -- that's what they're for. 

>>>Next is the spiritual plane. We don't have spiritual bodies yet. Religion is the standard way to call on beings who do exist and act on this plane, such as angels. Next is the causal plane (that's causal, not casual, btw!) -- the plane of causes. We don't have causal bodies yet. Religion, again, is how we call on beings of this plane, such as archangels. Highest of all is the divine plane. I don't imagine I have to tell you what's on this plane, and how to interact with Him...