Understanding Auras

Many spiritual seekers today show a keen interest in learning about the Aura. The aura is an electromagnetic energy field surrounding the physical body. Not only the body of Man but animals, trees, flowers and all objects have their own aura.  

The human aura is composed of many layers which reflect all the bodies of man. Closest to the physical body, we have the aura of our etheric body followed by the aura of our astral and mental bodies which extend much further from the physical body.

The human aura is composed of many layers which reflect all the bodies of Man.

Functions of the Aura

From the time of birth till the end of our physical incarnation, our aura accumulates every thought, word, feeling and deed of our life. Therefore, it functions as an indicator of our state of being.

According to Spiritual Teacher and author Lobsang Rampa, the aura is an indicator of the Soul. How evolved the Soul is, whether one is spiritual or not is reflected in the aura.

The aura also reflects a person’s state of health. It indicates the start of a disease because disease always shows up in the subtle bodies first before it appears in the physical body. If a person has had a long illness, then the aura will fade out before death. If a person dies suddenly while in good health then his aura will linger on for some moments after clinical death.

Our aura also contains a record of our past lives and the karmic contracts and Soul lessons that we intend to resolve in this life time.

Indian Spiritual Teacher Sri Aurobindo refers to the aura as ‘environmental consciousness.’  He says that if you become aware of your environmental consciousness, then you can catch the thoughts, feelings, desires and suggestions of others which attempt to enter into your auric field.

Spiritual Teacher Osho describes the aura as an absorber soaking up all the vibrations in our environment. This is why you instinctively wish to avoid meeting certain people because you feel worse in their company and you wish to be in the company of certain persons who make you feel more alive and well.

Thoughts are magnetically attracted to each other so if you think negative thoughts, then you attract evil thought-forms and if you think positive thoughts then you attract positive thought-forms into your auric field. If you regularly entertain evil thoughts, then it contaminates your aura and eventually a part of your aura is decayed.

For example, the negative thought-forms created by your jealousy or hatred for another person (your enemy) enters his aura and causes serious damage to him. The venom that you release toward ‘your enemy’ comes back and pierces your own aura. That is why Christ advised us to come to an understanding with our enemies. The Bible says, “Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you.”

Our aura is like an invisible net. Sri Aurobindo shares that when we throw out something from our waking consciousness, it does not leave completely. Instead, it takes refuge in our aura and from there it tries to get in again.

To illustrate, if a person has decided to quit smoking, his smoking habit will not leave completely. Instead, it will take refuge in his aura. It will press on his waking consciousness by showing up in his dreams where he would dream about enjoying a cigarette. He would also experience a disturbing pressure to smoke when he least expects it. This explains the phrase “Old habits die hard.”

Only when Man’s consciousness has transformed sufficiently through spiritual practice to hold greater light then the external outward pressure no longer disturbs him and gradually his old habit disappears from the aura.

Aura colours

The aura is accepted on scientific grounds because there now exists the technology to capture it referred to as Kirlian photography. Many seekers attempt to study the aura by studying its various colours and shades of colours.

The aura changes according to the progress of the Soul. This is determined by one’s level of awareness, thinking, meditation practice and mindfulness. As a person progresses spiritually, the aura colour improves. If a person slips backwards on the ladder of progress, then his basic colours may change completely or change in shade.

 Many seekers attempt to study the aura by studying its various colours and shades of colours.

According to Harold Percival author of Thinking and Destiny, the study of aura colours does not provide any information about the Self. An Elemental or Nature Spirit around you can easily take on a glorious “spiritual’ colour. Hence those who talk about seeing the auras of Masters or identifying a Master by his aura colour are showing ignorance.

As man progresses spiritually, the area of his auric field also becomes bigger. When a person enters the auric field of an Enlightened Master, he will find that he has entered in to a different energetic space and something starts changing. The Master’s aura allows for a transmission of light and transforms the disciple who is in his presence.  

For example, Ram Dass shares that he experienced the Divine existing as ‘loving awareness’ in the presence of his guru Neem Karoli Baba. According to Osho, this is the criterion to identify the Master.

I distinctly remember in the year 2014 while sitting in the presence of Brahmarishi Patriji, Founder of Pyramid Spiritual Societies Movement, that I experienced a deep sense of peace in my being. It was a very profound new experience of peace, something that I had not experienced before and the memory of that experience remains till today.

Written by Navneet

Navneet is a Meditation Teacher and founder of Truthful Living. For more information, please visit: www.truthfulliving.org