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Plane of radiation
(teja-loka)
Teja means light, and teja-loka is the plane of light. In the Upanishads, self or consciousness is said to have four states:
1.The waking state, called jagrat, in which the self is known as vaishvanara.
2. The dream state, called swapna, in which consciousness is known as taijas or tejas — full of light, or made of light.
3. The stare of deep sleep, called sushupti, in which it is known as pragya.
4. The altered state of consciousness called turiya: the unconscious/ conscious stare in which it is known as Brahman, Cosmic Consciousness.
Teja is the light that was created in the beginning. The world that we experience in the waking state is the phenomenal world that comes in the stage of creation before this. The phenomenal world is in the teja — in the light from which it materializes. It appears to be similar to the world of the dream state, but it is not. That state is completely made of light. The images we see in photographs look exactly like the real person, bur they are different patterns of light, which vary to create an illusion of reality. Taijas is related to the astral body sukshma, which is composed of light and in which the player dwells when he dreams.
To radiate is to emit light. Omkar is sound. After sound comes air, vayu-loka. And after air comes fire, teja, the subtle element responsible for all the forms of manifestation. Fire cannot exist without air, just as the player cannot land in teja-loka without first passing through the plane of air.
Every substance has a combustion point, a temperature at which it bursts into flame in the presence of oxygen. Heat is the excitation of molecules. The faster the molecules move, the greater the heat. Fire comes when this movement is too fast to be contained by the material. As the player rises higher and higher his own level of vibration increases. In the seventh chakra he reaches the essence of vibration. Then, his vibrations fully raised, he passes through air and bursts into radiant flame, giving light to all those around him.
When the player lands in teja-loka his light can be felt throughout the world. Though there are billions of stars in the sky, only a few are brilliant enough to be visible, and there is but one sun in each solar system. It is here that the player becomes light, illuminated. He becomes a sun, gathering around himself the astral bodies necessary to form a complete solar system.
The plane of radiation is not directly attainable by any arrow. The player must reach it slowly and gradually, unless he attains illumination through the practice of spiritual devotion.
This artwork beautifully captures the Plane of Radiation (teja-loka), symbolizing the ethereal plane of light. It embodies the concept of teja as the primal light created at the dawn of existence, correlating with the four states of consciousness described in the Upanishads.
At the center of the composition is a figure that represents the player who has traversed higher levels of spiritual evolution. This figure radiates light, symbolizing their transformation into a source of illumination and enlightenment. The radiant energy emanating from the figure visually conveys the essence of teja-loka as a realm filled with or made of light.
The artwork incorporates visual elements that represent the various states of consciousness, with a particular focus on teja-loka. The brilliant colors and composition evoke a sense of brilliance and radiance, reflecting the transformative journey of the player into a being of light.
This piece symbolizes the journey of the player from physical existence through various states of consciousness, culminating in their emergence as a radiant being in the Plane of Radiation. It highlights the spiritual evolution from mere physical existence to a state of divine illumination, portraying the profound transformation that occurs when one attains the highest realms of spiritual consciousness.
Additional info:
According to the Mandukya Upanishad, one of the most important texts of the Vedanta school of Hinduism, there are four states of consciousness that correspond to the syllable Aum (ॐ). These are:
- Vaishvanara: The waking state, in which one is aware of the external world and identifies oneself with the physical body. This state is represented by the sound A (अ) in Aum.
- Taijasa: The dreaming state, in which one experiences the impressions of past deeds and present desires in a subtle body. This state is represented by the sound U (उ) in Aum.
- Prajna: The deep sleep state, in which there is no differentiation between subject and object, and one experiences bliss and peace. This state is represented by the sound M (म) in Aum.
- Turiya: The fourth state, which transcends the other three states and is beyond time and space. It is the state of pure consciousness, in which one realizes one's identity with Brahman, the ultimate reality. This state is represented by the silence after Aum.
The Mandukya Upanishad asserts that Aum is Brahman and Brahman is the self (atman). By meditating on Aum, one can attain the supreme state of turiya and achieve liberation (moksha).