Five Sheath Meditation: Exploring the Pancha Koshas in Yogic Practice
This is an easiest scientific technique taught in Vedanta philosophy. According to doctrine of Vedanta 5 sheaths or bodies surround the soul of every person. The soul by its attachment and identification with them indulges in sense pleasures and worldly desires.
By meditation, we have to separate the soul from its attachment and identification with these 5 sheaths or bodies. When the soul is separated from these 6 sheaths, then the soul gets back to its real form which is pure consciousness and becomes forever free from the cycle of repeated birth and death.
For breaking the attachment of the soul to these 5 sheaths following 5 meditation processes are practiced
1. Unity with sound vibration meditation (Om chanting meditation); for, freeing our soul from the attachment and identification with the food sheath ‘(Annamaya kosh),’ or physical body.
2. Conscious Breathing Meditation (Simple Pranayama Meditation): For freeing consciousness from its attachment and identification to the vital sheaths ‘(Pranamaya kosh’), or energy body.
3. Repeating Prayer Meditation (Ajapa Japa or Shivo Ham Meditation): For freeing consciousness from its attachment and identification to the mental sheath (‘Manomaya kosh’), or emotional body.
4. Consciously Witnessing Meditation (Simple Pranayama Meditation): For freeing consciousness from its attachment and identification to the knowledge sheath ‘(Vignyanmaya kosh’), or intellectual body.
5. Inner Silence Meditation; For freeing consciousness from its attachment and identification to the blissful sheath (‘Anandamaya kosh’), or causal body or thought body.
