Dream Levels, Part 2: Theosophical Background
Mirrored from Ballabene's OBE and Astral Pages
In the previous article about dream levels, we heard about the practical aspects. Dividing the dream levels into 6 stages from the practical point of view is a very subjective oriented way to express development, which may be considered continual and without borders on one side of the scale of qualities and which presents itself in fluctuating nocturnal experiences on the other side. The reason why I have made a simplified scheme of 6 dream levels is not only for better understanding, but to present a clear description of the stages of the loosening process of the subtle body as well, how it is to be understand theosophically and in correspondence to other occult-esoteric teachings.
Theosophically, the central point of individual human evolution is the decrease of egotistic orientation. The way of development presents itself in the change of the former egotistic interests: to social engagement, to love, to understanding and wisdom, until at last the divine human aspect which was imprisoned in the shells of the ego liberates itself to dissolve in cosmic unification.
In the course of this process the subtle body, which is the "vehicle" or "shell" of the next higher human aspect, liberates itself more and more from the material body, the lowest and densest shell. (Consider the divine human being constructed like an onion, in which a series of shells enclose the heart of the entire life). The description of this process corresponds to the dream stages and is the content of this article.
1. State of subtle body and 1st dream stage
The astral body (subtle body) is unconscious and is sleeping in the imprisonment of matter. The astral body is unable to register impulses from its astral home. The individual considers itself as material and denies every other existence. To verify this dogma each finer input is suppressed. This suppression of everything non material extends even to the dreams, the voice of the subconscious. No dreams can be remembered after awakening.
2. State of subtle body and 2nd dream stage
The astral body shows first signs of life. Still bound very fast to the material body, the astral body starts a kind of introspection, which presents itself in form of shadow like dreams. There is a lack of light and power in the dreams, and for that reason only some dream fragments can be remembered.
3. State of subtle body and 3rd dream stage
The astral body is less bound to the material body and liberates itself some inches from the material body in a steady process of liberation then falling back again. It's like a non rhythmic, slow vibration. In the state of this initial "liberation", the astral body is independent from material body domination and is capable of perceiving impulses from the astral world. These impulses may be considered as telepathic inputs of other individuals or may be receptions of one's own higher astral knowledge and remembrance. The dreams include information about life and about different points of view about life. As linear verbal speech is not typical for the astral plane, the "language" of dreams is a language made of pictures.
4. State of subtle body and 4rth dream stage
While asleep, the astral body is loosened from the material body and is floating some feet above the physical body. As the astral body is not steady, but moves to and fro, and falls and lifts, very often these feelings of movement are inserted into the dreams. As a result there are flying dreams and falling dreams, or symbolic expressions (interpretations of the subconscious), like being lifted by an elevator, or sitting in a boat, etc. A further aspect is the insight of being free of material bonds and laws, manifesting as the dreamer's use of magic powers.
5. State of subtle body and 5th dream stage
The astral body is freed. While the material body rests in sleep, the astral body returns to the astral realms. There the astral body wanders, but is to a great extent still focused on personal problems. The astral body only registers the surrounding and other individuals and makes them a part of an inner dream story, which in principle deals with personal problems. If you meet such persons in an OBE and if you speak with them, their answers don't seem logical, because they extract statements you have said and mix them with their own inner thoughts. Although at this stage the dreamer sees and hears what's around them, they still have the old habit of believing that this is a dream and stay egocentric as they had been in the other dream stages.
6. State of subtle body and 6th dream state
The individual is aware of travels in the astral plane. In these instances the astral shell is considered the carrier of life more than the material shell. New insights about "death", destination of life, and other inner revelations are the result.