Creation Comes in Threes - By Chris Marlow

 Creation comes in Threes

Many aspects of the material world, and the way we experience it, form triads. There are three fundamental particles – protons, neutrons and electrons, which are now understood to each be composed of three quarks; there are three states of matter – solid, liquid and gas; three times - past, present and future; and we have three states of consciousness - waking, dreaming and deep sleep. Our nervous system has three main channels -the left and right sympathetics and the parasympathetic, etc., etc..

These triads have a common pattern which is expressed by the Indian concept of the three Guṇas –‘attributes, moods’. This idea emerged in the Upanishads (c.1200BCE) and is accepted by all branches of India philosophy. The three Guṇas are Tamas –‘darkness, inertia’, Rajas –‘passion, energy’ and Sattva –‘reality, essence, balance’. 

The idea is that, not only does all material creation and all living things contain these three qualities in varying amounts, but that these principles actually give rise to creation. Protons embody inertia, electrons are restless energy and neutrons create the balance and stability. In solids inertia predominates, in gases energy prevents adhesion, but in liquids there is a balance of the two. 

The Subtle System

Human beings have a highly developed Subtle System within them. This is composed of the seven main Chakras and three main Nadis –‘channels’. The three channels embody the three qualities, the Left Side is Tamas –‘inward, lethargic, emotional, subconscious’, the Right Side is Rajas –‘energy, thinking, out-going, supra-conscious’ and the central channel is Sattva –‘reality, peace, balance, present awareness’. The triads generally have this pattern of Left, Right and Centre

As well as the three channels side-by-side, the Subtle System is divided vertically. The three sections, each containing three Chakras, are divided by the three Granthis –‘knots, obstructions’. These ‘knots’ represent illusions about our existence which have to be overcome for our ascent into higher awareness. The Brahma Granthi is the illusion that the material world, what we experience through our senses, is the only reality, but we have to understand that ‘there is such a thing as Spirit’. The Vishnu Granthi embodies the illusion that ‘I am doing something’ – actually the Divine is doing everything and our primary need is to align ourselves with the All-pervading consciousness (through prayer, meditation and introspection). 

The illusion at the Rudra Granthi (positioned at the Āgñyā Chakra in the head) is that we are this identity formed by our ego and conditionings (body, name, status, memories, etc.) but the truth is that our awareness is the Supreme Sprit1 experiencing through us. 

The lower section, known as the Earth Realm and the Sphere of Fire, is the abdomen and legs encompassing the lower three Chakras – Mūlādhāra, Swādhiṣhṭhāna and Nābhi. These Chakras operate our biological needs – digestion, excretion, reproduction and locomotion. It is called the Sphere of Fire as it contains the fires of digestion, thinking and action and the sexual fire. 

At the top of the abdomen (Solar Plexus) is the Vishnu Granthi forming the gateway to the next section also comprising three Chakras - Heart, Viśhuddhi and Āgñyā. This is called the Atmospheric Realm, the Sphere of the Sun, where we think, feel, express, create and imagine. We have a sun of love in the heart, a sunny personality in the Viśhuddhi and a sun of forgiveness at the Āgñyā Chakra.

Above the Āgñyā Chakra (and the Rudra Granthi) is the Sahasrāra –‘thousand-petalled’ Chakra which, with the two levels above, forms the Heavenly Realm, the Sphere of the Moon. In this realm we experience thoughtlessness and bliss and a connection to the greater whole2. The Moon is pouring cooling, nourishing and healing Divine vibrations over the Subtle System.

1. In his ‘Ātmā Bodha’ (v.20), Ādi Śhaṅkarāchārya says: ’Just as people perform their work in the light of the sun, so the inner faculties – mind, ego, intellect, attention – perform their functions utilising the consciousness of the Supreme Spirit’. 

2. Becoming ‘One with everything’ is an experience reported in all religions by those who attain higher levels of consciousness.

Other Philosophies

The Chinese philosophy of Yin-Yang is similar. Yin is darkness, inertia and Yang is restless energy. They are surrounded by a circle creating the balance of the two.

Lao Tzu said ‘The Tao begot one; one gave rise to two. The two gave rise to three and the three gave rise to the ten thousand things’ (Tao Te Ching, Ch.42). We would understand that to mean that God Almighty (the One) separated into Ātmā –‘soul, spirit, consciousness’ and Ādi Śhakti –‘primordial energy’ (Two). These engendered the three Gunas –‘qualities’ which create the physical and living universe (ten thousand things) with their various combinations and permutations.

Buddhist, Islamic and Christian thought also incorporates these ideas.

The Three Secrets

Each of the three sections of the Subtle System contains a ‘secret’ manifestation of the Divine. These are secret because human beings are not aware of them before self-realisation. In the lower section, housed in the Sacrum bone, is the Kundalini, the pure desire for reunion with the Supreme Spirit. Unknown to us this has been guiding our spiritual development for umpteen lifetimes.

In the Heart (middle section) is the Ātmā –‘Spirit’, the pure consciousness which is our true essence, the detached witness of our lives. When the Kundalini rises and opens the Heart Chakra, we start to become aware of it, the consciousness of being conscious.

In the upper section, above the top of the head, resides the All-pervading Divine Consciousness (God in His Heaven). When these three secrets combine we get our Yoga –‘connection to the Divine’, and realize the identity of out spirit with the Supreme Spirit. This is the purpose of life for which the Subtle System has been designed.

Sahaja Yoga

Fortunately in Sahaja Yoga this knowledge is not just book-learning but a living reality experienced within. Having received Kundalini awakening through the Grace of Her Supreme Holiness Shri Mataji Nirmala Devi (1923 - 2011), we become aware of the inner workings of our Subtle System, and the true import of the ancient teachings is revealed to us.

Further Reading

These ideas are explored in more depth in the book ‘The Three Worlds – an investigation into the three-fold nature of creation’ which is available to download free from: The Three Worlds download pdf.