Category Archives: Transpersonal Psychology

What Happens to Vehicles of Consciousness When the Soul is Liberated?

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By George A. Boyd ©2023

Vehicles of consciousness typically align with the Soul and are tuned up as it evolves. But they are not necessarily liberated when it drops into the Nirvanic Flame. Several scenarios exist for what happens when the Soul becomes liberated in the Planetary Realm:

  1. All vehicles of consciousness are liberated at death – one must undergo the Pratyeka Buddha process to do this.

  2. Selected vehicles of consciousness are liberated – Adept Masters and empowered Adepts drop certain vehicles of consciousness that are not relevant to their ministry.
  3. Alignment of vehicles of consciousness with a form of service – individuals who liberate their Soul may align their vehicles with a nodal point where they can carry out a selected ministry via activating the vehicles of consciousness through Attunement. For example, an individual who has liberated the Soul might align his or her vehicles of consciousness with the 14th nodal point of the New World Servers Subplane on the Manasic Plane to carry out work as a group leader.
  4. Alignment of vehicles of consciousness with a stage of development within Planetary Creation that mirrors their station at Cosmic, Supracosmic, or Transcendental levels of development. For example, a Bhakti Yoga Preceptor who dwells on the First Cosmic Initiation might align his vehicles of consciousness with the form of the Saint to express Divine Love in the Planetary Realm
  5. A Master who elects to take the Sixth Initiation may tune up the vehicles of his or her personality to animate an immortal form in full consciousness – this stage of development is called the Ascension. [We write about the Ascension in depth in our Initiates Library volume, Discoveries on the Path. This book is available to those students who have completed the Mudrashram® Advanced Course in Meditation.]

Two other vehicle alignments are observed when the Soul is not liberated:

  1. Vehicles of consciousness line up with the Soul up to its establishment in its Crown of Purpose – this is normal vehicular development for those who have a Crown of Purpose.
  2. Selected vehicles of consciousness are tuned up out of alignment with the Soul – this appears in groups that identify with a vehicular seed atom or a nucleus of identity and transform it outside the axis of being, and move it beyond the Soul, so it is no longer controlled by the Soul’s transpersonal will.

We discourage aspirants from doing transformational work that misaligns vehicles of consciousness and moves vehicular seed atoms or nuclei of identity off of the axis of being—in the Subtle, Planetary, Transplanetary, Cosmic, Supracosmic, or Transcendental Bands of the Continuum.

We refer you to our articles available on our Open Stacks page to learn more about what spiritual imbalance is and how to avoid it: “The Cutting Edge of Spirituality,” “On Avoiding Imbalance from Spiritual Practice,” and “What is the Axis of Being?”

Those of you who do not know whether you have a Crown of Purpose or not may benefit from a Soul Purpose Reading, which can identify whether this is present and where this Crown of Purpose dwells in the Continuum of Consciousness.

The Challenge of Working with Concretized Thought

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By George A. Boyd ©2023

Q: I have heard you use the term, concretized thought. What do you mean by this?

A: There are three major levels of thought:

  • Concretized
  • Abstract
  • Spiritual

The seven levels of Concretized Thought are:

Naming – This establishes a one to one correspondence to physical objects and people. This creates the sense of reality for the environment and the objects and people who are in it.

Attribution – This assigns qualities or labels to physical objects or people. This places subjective judgments about these objects and people, and emotionalizes them.

Experience – This is your memory for life events and the people in your life, which generates your life narrative and your sense of connection to other people.

Learning – This is your memory for facts and information. This mnemonic reservoir is only as accurate as the quality of the information you learn—if you learn information that is incorrect, you will share that incorrect information with others and believe it.

Attitude – This is the stratum of emotionalized beliefs. You might idealize other people and things; you may demonize them. Negative attitudes form the basis of prejudice, arrogance, and racism.

Beliefs – A dictionary definition of beliefs is “the acceptance of the truth or actuality of something without certain proof; [it is a] mental conviction.” Commercial advertising, journalism, politics, and religion are examples of agencies that seek to shape beliefs; this in turn, may lead you to develop positive or negative attitudes about certain topics, objects, or other people.

Opinion – This is communication of your beliefs as speech, writing, or through other media.

Concretized thought can be vitiated through distorted beliefs and incorrect information. Especially when information is communicated to you in an emotionalized or sensationalized fashion, it may powerfully shape your beliefs and attitudes; those who disseminate falsehoods and wrong information can readily manipulate people, who are unable to verify the information they receive.

The seven levels of Abstract Thought are:

Mindset – This is a perceptual frame that is a container of your beliefs about the world, other people, and yourself. It may be difficult to break out of a mindset that posits certain beliefs about your potential and what is possible in your future; limiting mindsets may hold you back from taking risks and realizing your dreams.

Values – This is the content that arises from your conscience, which dictates the standards and moral rules that shape your behavior, mold your character, and influence the way you relate to other people. Values affect your beliefs about what is right or wrong; what is good and evil; and what you should and shouldn’t do.

Plan – This is a mental roadmap of the behavioral steps you must take to accomplish a goal. Planning, together with the execution of that plan, form the basis of your ability to work and carry out the functions of adult life in family, academic, and vocational settings.

Goal – This is a statement of what you choose to achieve. When goals are clothed in desire, they are called dreams. Goals are ideas of what you want; a plan provides the steps for you to achieve that goal; action enables you to attain that goal.

Problem solving – This is the action of your intellect, which uses intelligence to solve problems. Education and training develop your problem-solving skills.

Reflection – This includes thinking about the meaning of concepts and how they relate to other ideas. Reflection creates theoretical models of the world; science tests those models to see if they are accurate. Reflection about your life and the choices you have made is called introspection; reflection about your values is called values clarification; reflection about your options is called decision.

Personal intuition – This is the mental function that allows you to “check in” with the different levels of your mind and to get information on what you are experiencing. As you know and understand your self, you can extend this into an empathic reflection into the experience of others. This ability to have empathy for others is the basis for what has been called emotional intelligence.

Abstract thought draws upon the faculties of your Metaconscious mind. Problem solving and reflection may help you work with concretized thought to uproot the false information and beliefs that undermine its reliability and accuracy. Critical thinking and the ability to examine your beliefs and values help you to gain greater control over the ideas and information that enables others to deceive you or manipulate you.

Spiritual thought also has seven major facets:

Revelation – This is the passive reception of information from an archetype or spiritual being. If revelations are not subjected to reflection and analysis, they can lead to irrational beliefs. Some of the conspiracy theories circulating today stem from insights or revelations that have not been thought through, and are simply presented as truth.

Dialogue – This is an active question and answer discussion with different aspects of the personality or with elements of the Superconscious mind. At the personal level of dialogue, you might interview your ego, or a personification of one of your issues in your unconscious mind (subpersonality), your conscience, or your Self. In the spiritual level of dialogue, you might ask questions and listen to the answers from your attentional principle, your spirit, a nucleus of identity, or your ensouling entity—or you might dialog with spiritual beings who are outside of your own axis of being, such as angels, Ascended Masters, spiritual guides, the Holy Spirit, or the Divine. Dialogue is the foundation of journaling.

Guidance suggestion – This is a directive given to your attention in meditation, hypnosis, or psychotherapy to focus your attention on an internal aspect of your mind. You may be asked to observe this internal object of meditation; you may be asked to dialogue with it; or you may be asked to interact with it. Guidance suggestion underlies guided meditation, hypnotherapy, and many of the imagery therapies that interact with intrapsychic elements.

Creation – This anchors thought forms in the Astral Plenum though affirmation, visualization, claiming by faith, and decree. Thought forms are purported to substand the phenomena of miraculous manifestation; the New Age community relies upon the creation of positive thought forms to activate the Law of Attraction.

Love – This is the thought stream of love and devotion that comes from your spirit. You become aware of this type of thought when you meditate upon your spirit.

Attunement – This is the beam of directed thought from your attentional principle that carries the Divine Light during attunements. In addition to making attunements, this beam of intention can activate a transformational mantra, actively focus your attention on an object of meditation, or enable the attentional principle to travel through the bands of the Continuum of Consciousness.

Illumination – This arises from the activation of the Illumined Mind of your ensouling entity. This allows you to access the knowledge of the Superconscious mind, to receive the wisdom and guidance of your ensouling entity, and to discern the true nature of your ensouling entity.

You access spiritual thought in the Superconscious mind. Spiritual thought allows you to work on yourself and uproot the false beliefs that plague concretized thought; it promotes insight, understanding, creativity, and the expression of your ensouling entity’s wisdom, love, and ability.

The Psychological Matrix

There is interaction between eight of the levels of concretized and abstract thought that can distort belief and behavior:

  1. Attribution can go astray when people have negative experiences, incorrect learning, mistaken attitudes, and false beliefs that influence your ideas about other people. Attributions that come from the unconscious mind are called projections; desire and fear distort projections.
  2. Life narrative can be subverted through traumatic, abusive, or difficult life experiences; erroneous learning, warped attitudes, and untrue beliefs can distort your perception and experience of your life and self-image.
  3. Learning can be vitiated when you receive incorrect information.
  4. Attitude can be conditioned though attribution, experience, learning, and belief.
  5. Belief can be influenced through your experience, learning, and values; the opinions and judgments of others also play a role in shaping your beliefs.
  6. Opinions communicate your values, beliefs, attitudes, experiences, and attributions; when these levels of the psychological matrix have been corrupted, your opinions reflect this bias.
  7. Mindsets are held in place through other’s opinions; and through your values, beliefs, attitudes, and experiences. Negative mindsets can impede growth and change; positive mindsets can facilitate forward movement in your life and achieving more of your potential.
  8. Values can influence your mindsets, opinions, beliefs, and attitudes; how you regard your life experiences; your attributions, and your behavior. When you accept the values of others as your own (introjection), this can powerfully affect how you view yourself, others, and the world.

Your psychological matrix is constructed from the interaction of these eight facets; when these have been perverted, your beliefs and mindsets may imprison you. Those who begin to work with spiritual thought—aspirants and disciples—can begin to purify this psychological matrix.

Purifying Your Psychological Matrix

There are a variety of methods that you use to begin to purify your psychological matrix:

  1. Attribution – Ascribing correct descriptors to a person’s character and behavior; re-owning your projections
  2. Life narrative – Working out traumatic and abusive life experiences through psychotherapy and forgiveness; experiencing emotional healing through reception of the Holy Spirit or Comforter
  3. Learning – Correcting inaccurate information; utilizing critical thinking, reality testing, and reflection to uproot incorrect learning
  4. Attitude – Cultivating loving kindness, compassion, and understanding towards yourself and others
  5. Beliefs – Deconstructing false beliefs through cognitive behavioral therapy; immersion in the stream of the Illumined Mind
  6. Opinions – Gaining direct experience and accurate knowledge that counters inaccurate learning and beliefs; connecting with your attentional principle, your spirit, and your ensouling entity and receiving truthful guidance
  7. Mindsets – Shifting attention into alternate frames of perception (reframing); operating from the deeper perspective of the Self and the Soul; moving your attention into higher levels of awareness (consciousness raising)
  8. Values – performing values clarification and introspection; exposure to moral teaching that enables you to evaluate your behavior and the values you have chosen; choosing to improve your character; and discovering your Dharma—the inmost core of truth within your heart.

You learn several of the modalities of spiritual thought in our intermediate meditation courses, the in-person Mudrashram® Master Course in Meditation and the by-mail and online Accelerated Meditation Program. Through these applied methods you can begin to reform the layers of concretized and abstract thought that imprison you in the labyrinth of your psychological matrix.

Approaches for Working with Deep Seated Issues

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By George A. Boyd © 2023

There are several different perspectives on working with deep-seated issues across the Seven Rays:

First Ray – Activation of the will through will training (volitional therapy); use of attunements to destroy entities that contribute to mental and emotional distress (Attunement and transformation)

Second Ray – Understanding of the issues through listening and empathic reflection (humanistic therapy); loving kindness and compassion meditation (meditations drawing upon the source of unconditional love within)

Third Ray – Identifying steps to change and taking constructive action (coaching); identifying layers of the issue and leading attention to gain insight and release through reflective, receptive, and guided meditation (Jnana Yoga)

Fourth Ray – Use of creative exploration methods using drawing, giving a voice to unconscious issues, and acting out unconscious issues through psychodrama (Gestalt and imagery therapies); use of mindfulness and Vipassana to breakthrough and transcend the issue (Zen Morita and mindfulness-based therapy)

Fifth Ray – Dismantling false beliefs to uproot dysphoric emotions and dysfunctional behavior (cognitive behavioral therapy); using process meditation to identify where the issue originated and making the choice to re-create it (process meditation approaches)

Sixth Ray – Using psychotropic medicine, herbs, or vitamins to ameliorate symptoms (psychiatry and holistic healing); invocation of the Divine Succor and Grace, receiving Divine Healing and Comfort (prayer and pastoral counseling)

Seventh Ray – Working with the system and the environment to change the dynamics that hold the issues in place (family systems therapy); awakening the Kundalini Shakti to awaken and empower the Soul (Yoga therapy)

There are two approaches: external approaches work through the personality—these involve psychotherapy, counseling, coaching, and medical and nutritional regimens. Internal approaches that engage the attentional principle, spirit, and Soul—these include meditation and invocation.

We train our students in these inner approaches to work on their issues. These methods include transformation (Mantra Yoga), Attunement (Agni Yoga), Reflective and Receptive Meditation (Jnana Yoga), Mindfulness and Vipassana, Process Meditation, and awakening the Kundalini (Kundalini Yoga) in our intermediate meditation classes, the in-person Mudrashram® Master Course in meditation and the by-mail and online Accelerated Meditation Program.

We encourage you to utilize different inner and outer approaches until you find one that enables you to make progress with resolving your issues. We note that different external or internal approaches do not work for certain individuals; you need to identify one that allows you to extricate yourself from the thralls of the issues that bring you unhappiness and hinder your progress towards your worthy goals and dreams.

Tracks Across the Unconscious

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By George A. Boyd ©2022

Q: How can I move beyond the unconscious mind? It keeps holding me back from transcending into deeper states of meditation.

A: There are seven major methods for moving through the unconscious mind. If you imagine that these tracks across the unconscious mind are like pathways through the centers of a form, we can visualize these tracks as follows:

  1. Base of the spine – This is the track of the Kundalini Shakti. When the Kundalini moves through the unconscious band of the mind, it can generate spontaneous emergence phenomena. This typically occurs when the Kundalini is drawn up into union with cosmic consciousness in the First Cosmic Initiation or with a Supracosmic seed atom, when an individual’s cutting edge of spirituality is Planetary.
  2. Navel – This is a vocal track, where you give a voice to the issues in your unconscious mind. This is done in dramatic forms of psychotherapy like Primal Screaming or Psychodrama. This speaking from the issues in the unconscious mind has been called abreaction or catharsis, and produces a release of pent up emotions.
  3. Solar plexus – This is the breath track. This uses techniques like Rebirthing or Holodynamic Breathing to move attention across the unconscious, which brings about insight into the issues and facilitates emotional release. When this Breathwork culminates, it permits breakthrough into the Superconscious mind.
  4. Heart – This track employs mantras to move attention across the unconscious. Commonly, simple mantras like “OM” or “I AM” are utilized. This grants full awareness of the issues that dwell in the unconscious mind.
  5. Throat – This track gives rise to glossolalia, which are mantra-like syllables of an “unknown tongue.” Christian Charismatic sects activate this track to move attention across the unconscious into union with the Moon Soul or Christ Child nucleus of identity.
  6. Point between the eyebrows – This track makes use of Tratakam, which leads attention along the thread that passes through the unconscious mind. This practice ultimately results in consciously crossing the entire zone of the unconscious, which we call Yoganidra.
  7. Brain – This track visualizes the unconscious as a series of layers, resembling a mandala. Using Vipassana to focus on each successive layer and releasing the energy contained within it allows the meditator to sink down to the very core of the unconscious and then transcend it.

Different meditation and psychotherapeutic techniques appear to access these tracks:

We teach Opening, moving attention over the boundary of the unconscious and observing the content in our intermediate mediation classes—the in-person Mudrashram® Master Course in Meditation and the by-mail and online Accelerated Meditation Program. This moves attention along the point between the eyebrows track.

In the Mudrashram® Advanced Course in Meditation, we teach Yoganidra, which moves attention much deeper on the point between the eyebrows track, and the Rebirthing Breath, which moves attention along the solar plexus track. More than simply dipping into the unconscious like in Opening, Yoganidra moves attention to the other side of the unconscious mind.

We discourage our students from using the base of the spine track that spans the unconscious, which pushes Kundalini beyond the cutting edge of spirituality. This readily produces emergence phenomena, which students have difficulty integrating.

We do not specifically teach abreactive methods, which arise from the track across the navel, for this is the province of psychotherapy. This giving a voice to the issues of the unconscious, or acting them out, needs to be carefully managed.

One of the techniques arising from the I AM meditations of the Second Planetary Initiation is using “I AM” as a mantra to move attention along the heart track through the unconscious mind. We teach I AM meditation to our students who are taking the Second Planetary Initiation. Those who have unfolded their Soul’s spiritual evolutionary potentials to this level or beyond can readily use this application of I AM meditation.

Yogi Preceptors and their advanced disciples commonly use the “OM” mantra to unite attention with cosmic consciousness, and then explore the track of the unconscious behind it, which separates this nucleus of identity from union with Brahman.

Some of those receiving the infilling of the Holy Spirit demonstrate glossolalia. We do not specifically train people in this method: it appears as a special gift of the Holy Spirit.

We teach a mandala method in our intermediate meditation classes to explore individual issues; this method can be readily adapted to identify the layers of the unconscious mind that separate you from liberation.

We suggest that you learn to move your attention using the methods of tracks (3) solar plexus, (4) heart, and (6) point between the eyebrows to help you consciously transcend the blockages of the unconscious mind you are encountering in your meditation.

On the Curious Matter of Strange Initiations

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By George A. Boyd ©2022

Q: I have noticed marked personality changes in people who are initiated into different spiritual groups. In some cases, people seem to go completely crazy and delusional. Can you shine some light on what is happening?

A: There are two factors here: integration and inappropriate and premature identification.

Integration means the personality can contain, process, and cope with the new knowledge, directives, or requirements for behavioral and cognitive change that the spiritual teaching impresses on the personality.

Moderate lack of integration can lead to personality disorders, in which normal personality functioning is negatively affected.

Severe lack of integration can lead to psychosis and breakdown of the ability to function.

Inappropriate identification means you identify with a spiritual essence—a vehicular seed atom, a nucleus of identity, spirit, or ensouling entity—that is not at the cutting edge of spirituality.

For example, if your cutting edge of spirituality was in the Abstract Mind Plane on the Temple of Philosophy Subplane, and you use spiritual practices that awaken the cosmic consciousness nucleus of identity, you are effectively identifying with a spiritual essence that is eleven Planes above your cutting edge of spirituality.

Here’s a depiction of the higher levels beyond this cutting edge of spirituality from the vantage point of the Soul that is on the Abstract Mind Plane:

  1. Psychic Realm [identification at this level is with a vehicular seed atom, or “Star Seed”]
  2. Wisdom Plane
  3. First Exoteric Initiation [identification at all three levels of the First Planetary Initiation is with the Moon Soul or Christ Child nucleus of identity]
  4. First Mesoteric Initiation
  5. First Esoteric Initiation
  6. Second Initiation [identification at this level is with the Solar Angel and the Mighty I AM Presence nucleus of identity]
  7. Third Initiation
  8. Fourth Initiation
  9. Fifth Initiation [identification at this level is with the Planetary Soul or Atma]
  10. Transplanetary Initiation [identification at this level is with the Monad or Paramatma]
  11. First Cosmic Initiation [identification is with the cosmic consciousness nucleus of identity]
  12. Second Cosmic Initiation [identification is with cosmic soul awareness nucleus of identity]
  13. Third Cosmic Initiation
  14. Fourth Cosmic Initiation
  15. Fifth Cosmic Initiation [identification is with the God consciousness nucleus of identity]
  16. Astral Soul [identity at this level is with this ensouling entity]
  17. Supracosmic seed atom of a Supracosmic Path [identification is with this nucleus of identity]
  18. Supracosmic Soul [identification with this ensouling entity is achieved when the Supracosmic seed atom unites with the Supracosmic Soul]
  19. The spirit on a Transcendental Path [identification is with the spirit and its ensouling entity]
  20. The Soul of the Bridge Path [identification is with this ensouling entity]
  21. Satchitananda [identification is with this ensouling entity]

Premature identification means you place your attention in union with a spiritual essence that exists on a Plane beyond where your Soul dwells. So, if your Soul dwells on the Abstract Mind Plane, you experience premature identification, for example, when you identify with the Star Seed in the Psychic Realm, the Moon Soul in the First Initiation, the Mighty I AM Presence in the Second Initiation, Cosmic Consciousness in the First Cosmic Initiation, a Supracosmic seed atom, or a spirit on a Transcendental Path.

What happens when you work with these essences beyond your cutting edge of spirituality is that you receive information that is cast in powerful emotions; this acts like a hypnotic suggestion. These suggestions may motivate you to do spiritual practices germane to this higher level. You might be led to adopt the philosophies, doctrines, or belief systems that are anchored in this higher essence. You might be induced to make personality changes or lifestyle modifications based on these belief systems that arise in this higher level; this may disrupt your life, your relationships, or your ability to function normally in the adult role.

What you commonly see is that you misunderstand, misinterpret, or distort the ideas you receive from these levels beyond your cutting edge of spirituality. This can bring about belief in strange conspiracy theories; stimulate paranoid ideation; and cause you to function in a trance-like state while remaining in an altered state of awareness.

If this identification is coupled with transformation of that higher essence along its track, you may see marked perceptual and energetic changes—even beyond those experienced during initial identification with this center. Perceptual changes include the sense that the world and your life are unreal. Energetic changes may give rise to a Kundalini syndrome.

To avoid these excesses that communion with these higher essences beyond your cutting edge of spirituality can generate—that produces lack of integration and inappropriate and/or premature identification—we recommend that you do the following:

  1. Obtain information from your cutting edge ensouling entity that guides you to carry out your expressed Soul Purpose.
  2. Debrief any information you receive during an altered state of awareness through reflecting on its meaning. Notice whether this information (a) provides information about a skill you are developing—e.g., you are learning astrology and aim to practice this as your profession: you receive guidance about astrology in your meditation; (b) it has practical guidance for your daily life and actually improves your life situation; (c) it helps you to overcome a longstanding personal problem or character weakness; and (d) it does not put forward illogical or fantasy assumptions that cannot be verified or demonstrated.
  3. Meditate on the vehicles of consciousness and the spiritual essences that are contained within the sphere of influence of your cutting edge of spirituality. While you may visit these spiritual essences on the higher Planes beyond your cutting edge ensouling entity to explore the Path ahead, you should not identify with these essences nor transform them, as this can produce imbalances. See our articles, “The Cutting Edge of Spirituality” and “Avoiding Imbalance from Spiritual Practice.”
  4. Build your personal foundation before venturing into the transpersonal zone. You should be able to fully function as an adult to carry out your responsibilities at work, school, and in your romantic, marital, or parental relationships—before venturing into the Great Beyond.

  5. Be a spiritual scientist. Treat all assertions of belief or spiritual truths as untested hypotheses, until you can verify them and demonstrate them.
  6. Don’t try to meet your personal emotional needs through spiritual identification. Your need for a loving human partner is not truly satisfied if you become a devotee of Jesus or Krishna. You will experience love at a higher level; but this will not fulfill your personal yearning—and these desires will continue to rankle in your unconscious mind until you satisfy them.
  7. If you channel information, preach or give satsang, or do healings or attunements—don’t assume that all information you receive from the higher Planes is benign, relevant, and appropriate for those that receive this information and energy from you. You need to know the individual who is receiving this outpouring from you well enough to assess whether they can genuinely integrate it and use it appropriately.

To not become warped and strange from taking initiations that lead to union and identification with a spiritual essence that is inappropriate for your current level of spiritual evolution, and your personality’s ability to integrate the new knowledge and perceptions you gain from this altered state of awareness, we recommend your do your spiritual practice at your cutting edge of spirituality.

If you are not sure how to do this, we teach you how to do spiritual work at your cutting edge of spirituality in our intermediate meditation classes, the in-person Mudrashram® Master Course in Meditation and the by-mail and online Accelerated Meditation Program.