Saptha Bhoomika

Sapta Bhoomika also called Jnana Bhoomika represents the seven stages on the path of Self-Realisation.  These seven stages are as given to young Sri Rama by Sage Vasishta and are found in Nirvana prakarana of Yoga Vasishtam.   Yoga Vasishtam is is a voluminous work of 32,000 verses spread over six sections written by Maharishi Valmiki, the Aadi Kavi, who wrote Ramayana and deals essentially with Jnana, spiritual knowledge.  The word ‘Yoga’ in Yoga Vasishtham is used in the generic sense of spiritual practices.  ‘Vaasishtham’ means originating from sage Vasishtha who imparted this knowledge to Sri Rama who had developed aversion to all worldly duties and things after pondering over their futility and evanescence.  This vast work was abridged into a smaller work of 6000 verses named Laghu Yoga Vasishta, by Abinandana Pandita some centuries ago.  Sage Vasishta narrates the seven stages as reply to Sri Rama’s question about the seven stages of spiritual Jnanam and the characteristics of Jnana yoga at different stages.

The seven stages are as follows:

1)    Subheccha (longing for the Truth)

2)    Vicharana (right inquiry)

3)    Tanumanasi (attenuation or thinning out, of mental activities)

4)    Sattvapatti (attainment of sattva, "reality")

5)    Asamsakti (unaffected by anything)

6)    Padartha Bhavana (seeing Brahman everywhere)

7)    Turiya or Turiyatita (perpetual Samadhi)

Let us see each one of them in a little more detail.

Subheccha - The Subheccha or good desire forms the first Bhoomika or stage of Jnanam.  The first stage is the substratum of the other stages.  The sadhaka feels a deep yearning to be free from Samsara; rightly distinguishes between permanent and impermanent; cultivates dislike for worldly pleasures; acquires mastery over his physical and mental faculties through Sadhana Chathushtaya Sampaththi, a preliminary stage in Jnana yoga.

Vicharana – Athma Jnana is acquired through a deep study of Athma Jnana Sastras under the guidance of a qualified guru and association with the wise.  The sadhaka will have non-attraction or indifference to sensual objects and will wilfully perform virtuous actions without any expectation of fruits. This will irrigate the mind with the waters of discrimination and protect it.  The sadhaka ponders over what he or she has read, heard, and has realized in his or her life.  Constant Atma Vichara forms the second stage and this corresponds to the stage of sravanam and mananam in Jnana Yoga.

Tanumanasi - Tanu means thread. The mind becomes thin like a thread through sadhanas in this stage as the mind abandons the many, and remains fixed on the One.  Hence the name Tanumanasi. This is attained through the cultivation of special indifference to objects. This stage is also known by the name Asanga Bhavana.  In the third stage, the aspirant is free from all attractions.  If any one dies in the third stage, he will remain in heaven for a long time and will reincarnate on earth again as a Jnani. This stage corresponds to Nitidyasanam in Jnana Yoga wherein one immerses himself in Athma Dhyanam for the removal of viparitha bhavanas.

Sattvapatti – This is the state of Jnana nishta or Jivanmukti.  In this stage all Vasanas will be destroyed to the root. Those who have reached the fourth stage will look upon all things of the universe with an equal eye.  Those who are established in the fourth Bhoomika will have perfect Advaita (non-dual) vision.  The perception of Dvaita (duality) will not be there.  They then see the world as in the dream. The Jnani, at this stage, is called Brahmavid  ("knower of Brahman").  Sanchita and Agami karma are now destroyed; only a small amount of Prarabdha karma remains. With Ashtanga yoga abhyasa and mano-nasa/mano-vritti-nirodha, the Jnani can attain the higher stages of Aadma dhyanam wherein differences arise only in the degree of absorption in transcendental state and not in Athma Jnanam or Purnatvam.  Varaha Upanishad (Section 4) while describing seven bhoomikas states there are four kinds of Jivanmukthas, meaning the Jnanis in the last four stages are all Jivanmukthas only.

Asamsakti - When the mind remains in the transcendental state alone, the Jnani is said to have reached the fifth stage. With the total dissolution of the mind, the world delusion will not arise in him.  All notions of duality and multiplicity would completely vanish.   Attaining the fifth stage, he will be free from all the toils and tribulations arising on account of the feeling of duality.  He will be always blissful and awakened within. As regards the reactions of the mind, such as sukha and dukha, he will be completely oblivious to them as in deep slumber.  Always dwelling by introversion, in the pure consciousness, he will yet be active, like any other man but with perfect non-attachment to the objects of the world. He will be always peaceful and appear as though asleep (due to the mind’s non-reaction and poise).   The Jnani, now called Brahmavidvara, performs his or her necessary duties, without a sense of involvement.  Either awake, or in samadhi, the jnani would ever be in the transcendental State.  Though he goes into samadhi with ease at any time, he can be woken up from that state without difficulty. In this and next two higher stages, Jnani enjoys deeper and higher levels of experiential spiritual joy in his meditation invoking his Swarupa Aananda.

Padartha Bhavana - External things do not appear to exist to the Jnani, now called Brahmavidvariya; in essence there is a non-cognition of 'objects' as the separation between subject and a distinct object is dissolved; and tasks get performed without any sense of agency (doership).   At this stage a Jnani has to be woken up from samadhi, but even after being woken up he continues in half-samadhi state only.

Turiya – This is the state of superconsciousness.  The Jnani is known as Brahmavidvariṣṭha and does not perform activities, either by his will or the promptings of others.  The state of Turiya is also known by the name Turiyatita. There are no Sankalpas. All the Gunas disappear. This is above the reach of mind and speech.  The Jnani in this stage is completely divested of all Vasanas. He is free from all ideas of difference and non-difference, 'I' and 'not-I,' being and non-being.  Jnani at this stage is always in deep meditation and cannot be woken up by others. Swami Sivananda states “The seventh stage is above the reach of the mind, self-shining and of the nature of Sat. In the seventh stage, the disembodied salvation (videha mukthi) is attained. It is homogeneous. It is indescribable; it is beyond the power of speech”.  Mundakopanishad (3-1-4) describes Brahmavidvarishta as athmakrida, athmarathi and kriyavaan (disports in the Self, delights in the Self, and is engrossed in (spiritual) effort.).  

(Based on Swami Paramarthananda's Guru Purnima Talk 2020)

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