leelaguide
The board

Virtues and Vices, The Pathway

The 72 squares of Leela are a map of consciousness. Each square names a state — a virtue to cultivate, a vice to recognise, or a turning point on the inner journey. Use this page as a reference during play or as a companion to the game.

Book a guideBrowse the 72 squares

Navigate the squares

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Square 1

Cell1—Birth (Janma)

Meaning of the square

This world is the land of karma. The game is contained in the very nature of consciousness. In the beginning there was no game, but consciousness, in accordance with its nature, could not remain motionless, without play. And so... "Let there be light!" Let there be play! And the Absolute turned from One into many. By entering the game, the player repeats the original process of creation, when the Absolute awoke from inactivity and began the cosmic game in which each of us is a microcosm. Having decided to play, the player must submit to the rules of the game (Dharma) and to the lot of karma. One symbolizes an independent personality, an independent decision, an independent life, and the search for something new, extraordinary, and original. One - Sun

Square 2

Cell2—Maya

Meaning of the square

A person is born to take part in this game, to understand how the principles of the subtle world work in the dense world. Its goal is union, the ending of duality. Two carries the qualities of duality, that is, illusion. This number appears when one repeats itself. Two is an illusion, because both of its opposites are present in the One. All the player needs to do is realize that he is a player and that his feeling of separateness is an illusion. All perceptions the player receives from the outer world exist within him as signals coming through the senses, and are therefore an illusion. The ego cannot function without the mind, and the mind also cannot work without the senses. Thus, complete detachment from the feeling of "I" and "mine" becomes possible only through full control over the work of the mind. This is exactly the state to which those who practice yoga aspire. When it is attained, the illusory awareness of oneself as a separate independent being comes to an end. Two - Moon

Square 3

Cell3—Anger (Krodha)

Meaning of the square

Anger is insecurity, the main problem of the first chakra. Anger caused by personal motives devours a person's good qualities and leads to downfall. Impersonal anger, free of personal feelings, destroys the cause that provoked it: evil. On the one hand, it purifies the body and in its action resembles purification by fire, but the price is too high: the level of vibrations drops so low that the player has to begin the game again from the first row. Anger can be expressed in two ways, violently and nonviolently. When a nonviolent method is chosen to express anger, it gives the player tremendous moral strength. Three - Jupiter

Square 4

Cell4—Greed (Lobha)

Meaning of the square

Material survival is the player's main concern on the level of the first chakra. When the player mixes his sense of dissatisfaction with the need for material survival, greed appears. He then begins to use his basic survival skills to seize even more. Yet the more he acquires, the stronger his thirst for acquisition becomes. His feeling of emptiness reaches the level of panic, and his actions become reckless. A player who lands on the square of greed opens the gates of his consciousness to maya, anger, and all the other problems of the first chakra. Four - Earth

Square 5

Cell5—Physical Plane (Bhu-Loka)

Meaning of the square

On the physical plane the player is mainly focused on material achievements. His usual concerns are money, a home, a car, food, and physical strength. His entertainments are connected with the body: sports involving competition and physical contact. His amusements also often include elements of violence. The main achievement here is professional mastery. All players must pass through this plane before reaching other dimensions. Seven snakes lead here from other planes, demonstrating the special importance of realizing the nature of the densest level of existence. Five - Mercury.

Square 6

Cell6—Delusion (Moha)

Meaning of the square

Delusion is attachment to the world of phenomena as the only possible manifestation of reality. Delusion clouds the mind, making the comprehension of truth impossible. There is only one thing to understand: existence is a game. With that realization, the delusion disappears that the player himself directs his existence. And with the disappearance of delusion, negative karma also disappears. If he sees his Dharma and recognizes that change is not only possible but necessary, he is ready to move on. But if he considers his vision of the world complete and final, he will inevitably return here again and again. Six - Venus

Square 7

Cell7—Vanity (Mada)

Meaning of the square

Vanity is self-deception, false pride, the building of castles in the air. The player becomes intoxicated with his power, his real or imagined qualities and achievements. Pride and vanity are two of the most dangerous poisons we drink while in bad company. Bad company, born of delusion and greed, is the snake that brings the player to vanity. The bad environment in which he finds himself is a manifestation of misguided desires. The danger appears when the player becomes carried away by his desires. Everything right no longer seems right to him, and what is bad no longer seems bad. His desire must be satisfied at any cost, and thus he creates bad karma and ends up in bad company, among those who support his wrong behavior. Since at this stage of development a person is shaped by the group to which he belongs, the player can stop creating bad karma for himself if he begins to seek good company. Seven - Saturn

Square 8

Cell8—Avarice (Matsara Or Matsarya)

Meaning of the square

In this game, avarice is linked with the snake of envy, since it is envy, born of vanity, that leads to avarice. In a state of avarice, the player feels active hatred toward other players. He is too good for them, and what they have is also too good for them. Therefore, the player reasons, what belongs to them should become mine. He becomes ill-disposed and feels a passionate desire to possess the material goods of those around him. This feeling differs from greed, where only the material side is visible. Avarice is greed combined with envy. As the player becomes more and more avaricious, his thirst for wealth increases. And all the other problems of the first chakra also begin to torment him. Eight - Saturn

Square 9

Cell9—Sensual Plane (Kama-Loka)

Meaning of the square

Kama means desire, desire of any kind. People desire fame, wealth, success, family happiness, and social status. Any desire, aspiration, noble or ignoble goal is kama. Kama is the first stage of evolution. If there were no desire, there would be no universe at all. The ninth loka is connected with ignorance, lack of enlightenment, and dullness. It hints to the player that new knowledge must be acquired rather than stopping at what has already been achieved. This is the ladder that leads the player to the second level of consciousness, which begins with purification. Nine - Mars

Square 10

Cell10—Purification (Tapa)

Meaning of the square

While on the first level, the player may for some time feel quite well, but soon he begins to experience a lack of life energy, wasted in negative emotions and sensuality. The loss of energy leads to feelings of inner emptiness. Purification is always accompanied by a rise in the level of vibrations, and energy begins to flow upward. This process takes place through changes in thoughts and actions, as well as through correcting one's way of life. Purification of hearing occurs when the power of hearing is withdrawn from the outer world and directed toward the sounds of the inner world. Maintaining complete silence for a certain period purifies the process of thinking. Fasting purifies the body. Overcoming difficulties purifies the player's personality, listening to the reading of sacred scriptures and inspired poetry purifies his inner self, the recitation of mantras purifies the nerves, and concentration and meditation purify both body and mind.

Square 11

Cell11—Entertainments (Gandharvas)

Meaning of the square

The player enters the realm of entertainments after purification. This level is a reflection of inner joy, a sense of rhythm, and harmony. Such a view of life is achieved only after overcoming the level of the first chakra with its main problem, insecurity and concern for material well-being. Entertainments bring a sense of lightness, encouraging rest and enjoyment of the moment. They enliven the monotony of everyday life, opening new perspectives and horizons. The player can enjoy the moment and free himself from worries, fears, and desires. Entertainments enliven monotonous life and open new opportunities and perspectives that previously seemed unreachable.

Square 12

Cell12—Envy (Irasya)

Meaning of the square

Landing on the square of envy, the player experiences a lack of self-confidence. When a person falls under the influence of envy, his energy is directed downward. By a karmic turn of events he has reached the plane of the second chakra, but in reality he does not deserve to remain there. In fact, he cannot remain on this plane because of the negative vibrations still present in his personality. At such moments the player envies those who are able to remain on higher planes without losing balance. Envy is the negative reaction that leads to the player's fall to the level of the first chakra, where he must become aware of and work through new elements of his negative karma. This snake bites the player again and again, forcing him to return downward, which serves to purify his thinking in the course of the game.

Square 13

Cell13—Insignificance (Antariksha)

Meaning of the square

Insignificance is a state directly connected with unstable negative intellect. When the player ceases to be aware of the purpose of his existence, feelings of abandonment (existential fear) and futility fill his consciousness. He sees no meaning in communicating with anyone. And the lack of vital force, accompanied by the sharpest feeling of inner emptiness, makes him rush about without finding a place for himself. He exists in constant negativity and anxiety. The dissipation of life force toward sensory objects is the main problem on the level of the second chakra. Yet the state of insignificance is by no means eternal. As soon as the player begins to replenish his energy resources, he is ready to continue the game.

Square 14

Cell14—Astral Plane (Bhuvar-Loka)

Meaning of the square

The material needs related to the first chakra have been satisfied, and now the player sees that life is far more interesting and varied than he could have imagined while preoccupied with earning a living. On a wave of self-confidence, his creative imagination is released. However, fantasies require more energy than any other kind of human activity. The player directs all his resources toward building castles in the air. He strives to break away from physical reality in pursuit of pleasures, enjoyments, and identification with different groups of people. The player has already overcome the earthly plane, and his imagination gives him an idea of the heavens. The danger lies in the fact that fantasies lead the player away from reality, draining his energy, and may remain unrealized.

Square 15

Cell15—Plane Of Fantasy (Naga-Loka)

Meaning of the square

Here there are no limits or restrictions; all of the player's energy is directed toward exploring this world and manifests in the creation of works of art, new ideas, and discoveries. Many of the finest works of art arose through immersion in this imaginary world. However, if the player loses control over his fantasies, he loses contact with the reality around him and may end up in the jaws of the snake of jealousy waiting for him on the next square.

Square 16

Cell16—Jealousy (Dvesha)

Meaning of the square

He begins to suspect other people when their actions differ from his ideas about himself. In romantic relationships he becomes jealous and fears infidelity. His doubts grow, and soon his energy returns to the first chakra, where he falls into the nets of greed. Nourished by insecurity, jealousy bears the fruit of losing the feeling of reliability and safety, which is the main characteristic of the first chakra. Lack of self-confidence also leads to dislike of oneself, which is then projected outward as our dislike toward others. To restore self-confidence, the player will now have to pass through the experience of the first chakra, where he can understand its causes and raise his vibrations.

Square 17

Cell17—Compassion (Daya)

Meaning of the square

Imagination allows the player to imagine the possible motives behind other people's actions. He sees that another person may also have been hurt or offended, whether by himself or by someone else. He knows that both he and the others are players in a cosmic game whose meaning and rules far surpass their present level of understanding. He realizes that there are other, higher states from which a person may judge the actions of others. This compassionate understanding allows him to forgive the other person. It frees his consciousness from self-identification, and he soars upward to the plane of the Absolute. Compassion, kindness, and patience have at all times fostered the development of the good in a person, helping in the purification of emotions, the shaping of character, and ethical development. The barriers of personality collapse, and the player's mind becomes a reflection of the Divine. Compassion is the renunciation of one's self. Yet it cannot free the player from the karma he has accumulated, and so he must continue throwing the die until he is bitten by the snake on the square of tamoguna, which will allow him to return to earth to complete his mission.

Square 18

Cell18—Plane Of Joy (Harsha-Loka)

Meaning of the square

The journey through the world of fantasy is coming to an end, and he is moving toward the real world and the practice of karma-yoga. He does not know how soon he will be able to reach his goal, Cosmic Consciousness, but from his own experience he has seen that he can overcome the levels of being by raising his energy. This is a moment of overcoming, and the spirit of joy fills the player. He has managed to pass through the first chakra and now feels no fear and is fully confident in himself. Rising above sensual desires, he has completed the second stage as well. He feels himself at the summit of his being and of the whole world. The sense of time disappears: joy is always eternal, however brief its moment may be. The limitations of space also vanish: joy knows no boundaries. Yet joy cannot be permanent: soon the forces of karma begin their work, impelling the player to move through the third level.

Square 19

Cell19—Plane Of Karma (Karma-Loka)

Meaning of the square

This is a moment of sobering clarity. It is precisely at this moment that the player becomes aware of the law of karma. All things are in constant interaction with one another. On the level of energies, karma determines the frequency of the player's vibrations, which manifests on the physical level in the ways he behaves. Karma (action) creates chains, but it can also break them. The player bears karmic responsibility for his self.

Square 20

Cell20—Charity (Dana)

Meaning of the square

This virtue is one of the manifestations of the Divine principle in a person, the essence of his consciousness. Landing on this square, the player performs actions directed toward the good of others without expecting any benefit for himself. These actions fill the player with joy, accompanied by the rising of energies to higher levels. The reality of other people's needs and the desire to share, these two factors begin to operate on this level of the game. Charity satisfies the developing ego and frees the player from the chains of the third chakra. Charity is one of the most important milestones in passing through the plane of karma. It is the force that motivates one of the most elevated directions.

Square 21

Cell21—Atonement (Samana Papa)

Meaning of the square

The player realizes that in the process of satisfying his desires he may have harmed those around him. Entering the region of atonement, he sees that he followed an unrighteous path and, by resorting to unrighteous means, created unfavorable vibrations within himself that now prevent him from attaining inner peace. The player experiences an acute and pressing desire to purify his negative karma. He may also feel guilt because he cannot adapt to a higher level of vibrations. In both cases repentance brings positive results and establishes an ascending current of energy.

Square 22

Cell22—Plane Of Dharma (Dharma-Loka)

Meaning of the square

Whatever you consider good for yourself will also be good for others. There is no Dharma higher than good deeds, and no adharma worse than causing harm. Dharma is the truth that sustains right relationships among all elements of creation. Dharma is like the right road for a person, and in order to follow it, it is important to understand all its aspects, not only its general designation. One side of dharma lies in naturally following one's own nature; another lies in following general moral and ethical rules. Those who follow their dharma attain perfection in all spheres of life, both material and spiritual.

Square 23

Cell23—Heavenly Plane (Svarga-Loka)

Meaning of the square

Here the player becomes fully aware of himself and his ego and learns to exist not only for himself but also for the good. Heaven is bait for the lost sheep of the first and second chakras, meant to return them to the spiritual path. This method was used by saints and prophets of all religions to raise the spiritual level of the masses. Here there are no lower desires, violence, attachment, greed, jealousy, acquisitiveness, anger, sensuality, or insignificance. Instead, there are purification, mercy, joy, and eternal life filled with delight.

Square 24

Cell24—Bad Company (Ku-Sang-Loka)

Meaning of the square

In bad company, the common opinion is usually maintained that personal problems are caused by surrounding people or by society. The clearest example is terrorist groups that resort to any means to achieve their goals. Justifying their actions with lofty aims, they only mislead one another. It seems to them that killing certain people can satisfy their desires. They blindly believe that their goals are the only right goals for everyone. This deviation from Dharma is a gross abuse of power, one of the main problems at the level of the third chakra. Association with bad company is adharma and leads to a fall. Only by attentively following the principles of Dharma can the player protect himself from this trap.

Square 25

Cell25—Good Company (Su-Sang-Loka)

Meaning of the square

In good company, vices are not cultivated. With the help of a teacher, players try to serve as mirrors for one another, reflecting both positive and negative tendencies. The result of being in bad company is the growth of self-importance. Good company is an essential factor in the player's development. Here he receives the opportunity to outgrow his former identifications in an atmosphere of support, trust, and compassion. Good company is the positive aspect of the striving for self-identification and self-assertion characteristic of the third chakra. There are no longer any obstacles on the player's path to the fourth level of the game, the plane of cosmic mind and balance.

Square 26

Cell26—Sorrow (Dukha)

Meaning of the square

The disciple strives to identify with the deity. Repeated failures bring sorrow. The player becomes aware of the existence of the Divine and tries to realize it within his own personality. Yet the separation seems an unbridgeable abyss. He sees how the problems of the first and second chakras again and again absorb his energy. He feels incapable and unworthy of the intended goal. And yet there is a path that gives him hope. It is selfless service, represented by the next square of the game board.

Square 27

Cell27—Selfless Service (Paramartha)

Meaning of the square

No one can guarantee a reward: countless factors influence the outcome of any action. If the player is free from hopes and desires, every moment becomes an achievement for him. By freeing himself from the false stance of gains and losses, he reaches selfless service, and the arrow carries him upward to the human plane. Performing one's duties in the proper manner, renouncing one's self for the sake of what must be done, leads to the loss of identification, which is the main problem of the third chakra. Individuality ceases to exist as a separate unit, becoming part of a greater whole.

Square 28

Cell28—True Religiosity (Sudharma)

Meaning of the square

Different people are born at different times and to different parents. Relatives, environment, atmosphere, as well as geographic, ethnographic, and social conditions are different for different people. Everyone is born with a certain set of positive and negative tendencies; no one is perfect. Each person must understand his own role in the game. He must follow his unique path to liberation. If he feels confident on one of the levels, it is from there that he should try to develop his creative activity. That is his only sudharma. But understanding one's role in the game comes only upon reaching the level of the fourth chakra, the square of sudharma, from which one moves to the plane of asceticism for strict self-restraint and work on oneself.

Square 29

Cell29—Absence Of Religiosity (Adharma)

Meaning of the square

Inattention to oneself is adharma, but worship of oneself is also adharma. To live in constant tension without rest is an obvious adharma. But freeing oneself from tension by resorting to false means is an even greater adharma. The greatest adharma is self-destruction. While in the fourth chakra, the player begins to understand the importance of true religiosity. In searching for his role in the game, he may neglect existing aspects of Dharma, trying to do everything his own way and ignoring the planetary laws of existence. The key to this situation is faith. Faith that is in harmony with the laws of existence is sudharma; mere faith is adharma.

Square 30

Cell30—Good Tendencies (Uttama Gati)

Meaning of the square

Good tendencies manifest spontaneously in the player if he moves in harmony with the laws of the macrocosm. As long as he vibrates on the three lower planes, these tendencies do not develop. Their growth begins only here, in the fourth chakra, because it requires the attainment of a certain degree of inner balance. Begin by observing the changes that occur within you at dawn and at sunset. Rise in the morning while it is still dark, take a shower, and change into clean clothes for morning meditation. Other good tendencies include switching to a vegetarian diet, practicing hatha-yoga asanas, and studying methods of breath control. The practice of good tendencies helps the player stabilize his life so that it develops rhythmically in a positive direction.

Square 31

Cell31—Plane Of Holiness (Yaksha-Loka)

Meaning of the square

A player who reaches the plane of holiness experiences divine grace through understanding cosmic principles. Holiness is the direct result of good tendencies. This unity transcends mere intellectual understanding and becomes a real part of everyday life. The player seeks to find connections between the divine and his daily life.

Square 32

Cell32—Plane Of Balance (Mahar-Loka)

Meaning of the square

Here the player rises above the physical level, desires, and thoughts. Here the player also overcomes intellectual understanding of the Divine and moves toward a direct experience of Its presence within his self. It is in the heart that our emotional self lives. No matter by what path the player reached this place, he now enjoys peace. His heart is filled with the spirit of devotion, bhakti. He becomes capable of beginning to identify with all creation, cultivating within himself the experience of cosmic unity. Tenderness, gentleness, and aesthetic feeling are mostly manifested in his behavior. His speech comes from the heart and penetrates the hearts of others, so that without any effort he attracts a group of followers seeking to attain the same level of vibrations.

Square 33

Cell33—Plane Of Fragrances (Gandha-Loka)

Meaning of the square

In the first chakra the player is attracted by the smells of alcohol or gasoline. In the second he is stimulated by various synthetic mixtures with strong odors. In the third chakra fascination with similar artificial smells also dominates, though much more expensive ones. Rising to the plane of balance, the player realizes the futility of everything artificial and avoids stimulating unnatural aromas. Here, in gandha-loka, he tastes divine fragrances during meditation. The evolution of energy leads to changes on the chemical level in the player's body, and his organism stops emitting unpleasant odors, giving off instead an aroma similar to the scent of lotus flowers or sandalwood. To develop understanding, people engaged in spiritual practice are advised to stop using artificial body fragrances in order to learn their natural smell. When unpleasant body odor disappears, when neither excrement nor sweat nor breath carries any bad smell, it means that the person's energy has overcome the third chakra and entered gandha-loka, the plane of fragrances. Here only divine scents exist.

Square 34

Cell34—Plane Of Taste (Rasa-Loka)

Meaning of the square

Whereas in the lower chakras the sense of taste was mainly one variety of sensual perception, in the fourth chakra it is purified and becomes taste in the aesthetic sense. A person who reaches this plane enters the world of ideas and meanings. This gives him direct, experience-based knowledge of the essence of emotional experiences. When the player lands on the plane of taste, his taste becomes more refined in every sense of the word. His preferences in food, music, and communication are pleasing to everyone, regardless of their own level. He becomes a connoisseur and appreciator of good taste, recognized by all. Thus he attracts followers who wish to come to such a state.

Square 35

Cell35—Purgatory (Naraka-Loka)

Meaning of the square

As soon as the player acquires freedom of action, he becomes responsible for its consequences. Naraka-loka is the place where the player settles his accounts. Entering naraka-loka without the understanding characteristic of the fourth level, the player views the situation as a failure; he does not see in it the consequences of negative karma. Then it becomes obvious that naraka-loka is nothing other than a sign of imperfection in actions, something that must be corrected. In the fourth chakra, awareness occurs without judgment.

Square 36

Cell36—Clarity Of Consciousness (Svachchha)

Meaning of the square

In Sanskrit the word svachchha means "pure, clear, transparent." This transparency is the result of the process of purification through which the player passes in naraka-loka. Transparency means the absence of obstacles to light. When all doubts are clarified, the veil of blind intellect dissolves, and it is replaced by the pure and powerful light of inner feeling. Intellectual understanding, dominant in the first three centers, leaves the stage. Here reasoning is regarded as a deficiency, a disease of consciousness. When consciousness identifies itself with understanding, it suffers from the illness of rationalism, from the chains of intellect. Devotion and faith help overcome this state, and the player enters the level of Being.

Square 37

Cell37—Jnana (Gyana)

Meaning of the square

A player who understands his role in the game and the nature of the actions that will allow him to fulfill that role lives in bliss. As long as the player is aware of himself as a separate independent entity, he is bound by individual karma. In the light of jnana it becomes clear that by limiting the field of karma's action, he can begin to establish himself in bliss. This is insight into the essence of the game.

Square 38

Cell38—Prana-Loka

Meaning of the square

Prana is life force. In Sanskrit it is a synonym for life and the name of the breath of life that we receive with every inhalation. Prana is also the name of one of the five basic subtle energies in the body. Prana is a faithful servant who satisfies all the requests of his master without demanding any reward for it. Like a true devotee, prana faithfully serves our consciousness twenty-four hours a day. But prana has its own temperament. Even a small change in the master's attitude affects the speed and rhythm of the cycle. A good master, who understands the devotion of his servant, should try to help prana develop. The methods necessary for this are called pranayama and make up one of the most important sections of yogic discipline.

Square 39

Cell39—Apana-Loka

Meaning of the square

Apana is, in contrast to prana, the downward-moving energy responsible for bodily elimination. It is the main force that promotes purification of the organism. The mixing of prana and apana releases a huge amount of energy, awakening the energy that lies dormant at the base of the spine and is called Kundalini. This mixing of prana and apana leads to the rejuvenation of the yogi's body; he becomes full of life, enduring, and energetic, as at sixteen years of age.

Square 40

Cell40—Vyana-Loka

Meaning of the square

Vyana is the energy that distributes prana throughout the human body, through the lungs and all life-support systems. It is responsible for blood flow, heartbeat, for the eyes filling with tears, and for the body sweating to provide thermoregulation. Oxygen and prana are mixed, absorbed by the body, and enter the bloodstream. Then this energy travels through the body and returns to the veins with the help of vyana, which carries this blood back to the heart, cleansing and restoring. Vyana is energy, the vital wind, It spreads prana throughout the body. ...Vyana is a participant in spiritual growth. If you are restrained in deeds and in thoughts, Vyana will raise the energies from below. If vyana is sufficient, you are strong and fresh. If vyana is in excess, you will be able to heal those close to you. (c) Ananda Besk

Square 41

Cell41—Human Plane (Jana-Loka)

Meaning of the square

A player who reaches the level of the fifth chakra, the human plane, strives to harmonize his life with divine laws in order to maintain the ascending flow of his energy. In order to establish himself in his experience, he feels the need to communicate with others. That is why the fifth chakra is the source of all great teachings. Its location in the throat, near the vocal cords, emphasizes the importance of communication for the player whose vibrations are on this level. On this plane the player comes to understand the true meaning of what it is to be human. This is often achieved directly in the transition from the level of the third chakra by means of the arrow leading from the square of selfless service.

Square 42

Cell42—Plane Of Agni (Agni-Loka)

Meaning of the square

On Agni-Loka the player is in direct interaction with the fire deity, which is a mirror reflection of his inner world, fears, and experiences. Deception is impossible, so a person has to open himself to the fire; otherwise a decline in the positive vibrations of karma becomes inevitable. Agni-Loka is an endless stage of rebirths awaiting the player. Whoever falls onto this plane is ready to accept the truth that form changes from birth to birth and depends on the level of positive karmic vibrations that a person managed to create in his previous life.

Square 43

Cell43—Human Birth (Manushya-Janma)

Meaning of the square

He is the son of God, and of Him alone. He belongs to no caste, creed, nation, or religion. He is free from attachments. He has found himself. Now he is born as a Human Being, and his presence is felt by all who are still only waiting for such a birth. He possesses direct perception of truth, looking reality straight in the face. He has lost interest in the makeup of the groups of his followers and needs no one's favor. He relates only to truth, and service to truth becomes his sole purpose. A human being is a rational creature. This gift of reason helps him align all his thoughts, words, and actions with truth.

Square 44

Cell44—Ignorance (Avidya)

Meaning of the square

A player who lands on the square of ignorance forgets the illusory nature of being and becomes attached to one or another emotional state or sensory perception. The loss of understanding of the nature of maya (illusion) leads to the clouding of his intellect. Every mind perceives the surrounding world in its own way, considering some objects more important and others less so, in accordance with the karma accumulated by the player. True knowledge assumes an understanding of reality free from value judgments and attachment to objects of sensory perception, which are constantly changing, transient, and therefore unreal. Only if the player manages to keep constant watch over his own sound, the sound of his self, of his being, only then will he not become a victim of his mind.

Square 45

Cell45—Right Knowledge (Suvidya)

Meaning of the square

If jnana is the realization of truth, right knowledge includes both realization and behavior (practice). Right knowledge is the food of consciousness that protects it from the snakes of irreligiosity, sorrow, jealousy, envy, ignorance, violence, selfishness, tamas, and the inertia of the negative mind. Right knowledge strengthens the inner voice. Suvidya tames the tiger of the mind and turns the forest of desires into a blooming garden of evolution. True knowledge manifests when the knowing subject and the known object merge completely. This is vidya, right knowledge.

Square 46

Cell46—Discernment (Viveka)

Meaning of the square

Objects of sensory perception create a complete illusion of reality. A person attaches great importance to the objective world, and he develops a desire to identify with the objects of sensory perception. Viveka, or discernment, is the force that saves him from falling into the desire for attachment to the material. It is the voice of inner wisdom. The sixth chakra is traditionally called the "third eye." Our two eyes see only what exists, what was in the past and what is in the present. But the "third eye" gives the power to discern future possibilities in the game.

Square 47

Cell47—Plane Of Neutrality (Sarasvati)

Meaning of the square

Moving to the level of the sixth chakra, the player no longer divides things into good and bad. The boundary between them disappears and true right knowledge is born. Now the player can find balance and no longer worry about what is happening around him. He has grasped the essence of the game and can simply observe its course as an outside spectator.

Square 48

Cell48—Solar Plane (Yamuna)

Meaning of the square

In the sixth chakra the player establishes balance between the masculine, solar principle and the feminine, lunar principle. This harmonious union of elements creates the observing self, which is neither male nor female but a harmonious combination of both. When a player whose vibrations remain on the level of the lower chakras is touched by the solar plane, his first impulse becomes destruction, force, and self-identification. Too much solar light could burn the whole planet. To balance the Sun, the Moon is needed. A player who arrives here by passing through the fields of wisdom and right knowledge understands this and learns to balance the flows of his energies.

Square 49

Cell49—Lunar Plane (Ganga)

Meaning of the square

A player who enters this plane finds himself at the source of feminine magnetic energy. Lunar breathing soothes pain, dispels sorrow, and helps restore the powers of consciousness. Ida-nadi leads the player to the lunar plane, the plane of devotion and receptivity. The general rule of yoga is this: the left nostril should dominate during the day, and the right at night. Lunar breathing is needed during the day to compensate for the predominance of solar energy, and solar breathing at night to balance the predominance of the moon.

Square 50

Cell50—Plane Of Asceticism (Tapa-Loka)

Meaning of the square

This is the practice of meditative self-renunciation. The developing observer-self notices the karma that remains unworked, and it becomes too heavy a burden to move on. Only repentance and the flame of ascetic practice can burn it away. In the West there is much talk about the "third eye." To understand this phenomenon, the player must experience all the difficulties of the plane of asceticism. He must pass through spiritual discipline. He must renounce identifying himself as a man or a woman. His whole understanding of himself must change radically. He must recognize within himself the presence of the Divine. He must feel his infinite nature.

Square 51

Cell51—Earth (Prithivi)

Meaning of the square

Up to this point the earth has nourished her child, the player, but now he can create his own game in order to move up or down in accordance with his karma. Sometimes in the course of the game players rise several levels, experiencing states of compassion, wisdom, or true knowledge. These arrows lift them to higher planes. But if in reality, by the level of their vibrations, they do not belong to these planes, then they must return home to their Mother, Earth. And the better the player comes to know the earth, the more deeply he can appreciate the elusive balance that sustains life on her surface.

Square 52

Cell52—Plane Of Violence (Himsa-Loka)

Meaning of the square

Human bodies serve only as transient forms. The player knows that death is merely a change of life's scenario. Here the danger appears that the player may resort to violence, understanding that his actions do not ultimately cause real harm to other players. The player believes that he possesses the whole truth, that he himself is in fact God or His messenger. All who disagree are deluded, and therefore any means are justified in order to convert them to the "true" faith. It would be better, he thinks, for them to die with understanding than to live in ignorance. A lack of fluidity and spiritual love leads the player to the need for even greater repentance in purgatory, where he must repent from the heart.

Square 53

Cell53—Plane Of Liquids (Jala-Loka)

Meaning of the square

Water has no shape of its own; it takes the shape of the vessel in which it is contained. This is also the fundamental property of the player of the sixth chakra: the ability to become what contradicts the ego. The real game begins when the player loses his individuality as a player. Before the sixth chakra and before the emergence of the ability to become formless, the player was held captive by money, sex, power, karma, and the search for knowledge. The game begins in the sixth chakra, when knowledge has already been obtained and the illusion of identifying the player with form has dissolved.

Square 54

Cell54—Plane Of Spiritual Devotion (Bhakti-Loka)

Meaning of the square

There is nothing higher than love, and bhakti is the religion of love. Spiritual devotion is the arrow that carries the drop into the ocean after the drop becomes aware of the presence of that ocean within itself. This is the only direct path to Cosmic Consciousness. Spiritual devotion turns Cosmic Consciousness into a friend, and the player meets Divine reality face to face. Knowledge and wisdom give only awareness of the presence of the cosmic principle. Devotion, however, turns every situation, every moment into a meeting with the Absolute, allowing the player to see the Lord present in everything and everywhere.

Square 55

Cell55—Selfishness (Ahamkara)

Meaning of the square

In order to take part in the game, the sense of self identifies itself with the object on the game board that moves from square to square, rising by the arrows and falling down by the snakes. When the player fully identifies himself with this piece, he becomes ecstatic when an arrow lifts him higher and despondent when, bitten by a snake, he falls down. He has become a victim of selfishness. He has become too attached to the goal of the game and has forgotten his divine nature. In the course of his development, the player must discover that he does not exist as a separate reality, that he is a manifestation of energy and must at some stage of his development merge with his source. Here the ego comes face to face with the danger of death and may turn into selfishness. The ego becomes selfishness if the player is too concentrated on himself.

Square 56

Cell56—Plane Of Original Vibrations (Omkara)

Meaning of the square

Omkara is the plane of vibrations that produce this cosmic sound, which is in harmony with all other vibrations. A player who reaches this place realizes that Om is the vibration filling all the elements of being. In the beginning was the Word (sound). And the Word was with God, and the Word was God. The player can become aware of this sound if he bypasses the traps of desire set by his mind and meditates, creating sound with the help of his body. Om is the foundation of all knowledge, poetry, and art. Concentration on Om opens to the player all the boundless sources within him that had previously been blocked by the maya of the lower chakras.

Square 57

Cell57—Plane Of Gases (Vayu-Loka)

Meaning of the square

A player who has reached vayu-loka has already made his transition through Omkara and, as a result of his karma, attained higher modes of vibration. In the sixth chakra we encountered the plane of liquids, but liquid still has form. Gas has no definite form at all. Liquid has weight, gas does not. The player is no longer burdened by anything; he has acquired true freedom of action. He becomes a being beyond gravity and without form.

Square 58

Cell58—Plane Of Radiance (Teja-Loka)

Meaning of the square

As the player rises higher and higher, the level of his own vibrations increases. Then, when his vibrations reach a certain limit, he passes through the plane of air and ignites with a radiant flame that gives light to all who surround him. When the player reaches the plane of radiance, he illuminates the whole world with his light. It is on this plane that the player becomes enlightened. He turns into the sun. The player must move toward it slowly and gradually, unless he attains final liberation through the practice of spiritual devotion.

Square 59

Cell59—Plane Of Reality (Satya-Loka)

Meaning of the square

If the player has not yet fully freed himself from doubt and laziness, he will become the victim of one of the snakes. But if he is able to keep his mind from negativity and his karma has reached completion, he will successfully pass the snake of tamas and the planes of the eighth level and Cosmic Consciousness await him ahead. He is aware of the dangers he faces and understands that he must perform the right actions in order to achieve his goal. He still has karma that requires completion. There are no more arrows ahead to move him forward, no more sudden surges of energy upward. He must walk his path in accordance with his karma.

Square 60

Cell60—Positive Intellect (Subuddhi)

Meaning of the square

As long as the player remains in the body, intellect plays its role. It recognizes, distinguishes, and evaluates. In the seventh chakra these evaluative judgments no longer refer to the external world but are directed inward to discern the nature of the player's inner reality. Every judgment produces a change in the chemical processes of the body. These states are known as feelings. The positive vibrations of subuddhi are attained by following the path of Dharma: on the square of Dharma begins the arrow leading to this plane. Positive intellect combined with the player's stream of Dharma is one of the two most powerful means in the game, helping the player in the search for liberation.

Square 61

Cell61—Negative Intellect (Durbuddhi)

Meaning of the square

To reach his goal, the player must learn to accept everything the world offers him. If he denies any aspect of the situation, if he doubts the presence of God in any object or any situation, he thereby denies the existence of God. For the Divine is all reality. Everything is a manifestation of the One. Durbuddhi is negation, the negation of the Divine. That is why the player who becomes its victim falls into nothingness. All his energies have been exhausted in his denial of God, and he finds himself in emptiness. Until he is able to perceive what he denied, until he finds Dharma again, he has no hope of liberation.

Square 62

Cell62—Happiness (Sukha)

Meaning of the square

The numerology of the game tells us that to reach his goal he must once again roll a six, just as he needed a six in order to be born and enter the game. But if he becomes lazy, if it seems to him that there is nothing more to be done, tamas and illusion are hidden here. True happiness belongs to the player who preserves balance while approaching the goal. The game is important as a whole. He accepts everything life offers him. There is nothing he would reject. Even if he has reached the eighth plane and must return to earth again, he is still happy, knowing of the goal that may be attained by him.

Square 63

Cell63—Tamas

Meaning of the square

In the seventh chakra, tamas is the ignorance that arises from attachment to sensory perception. This ignorance comes after the player realizes the state of happiness and thinks that this is the end of the need to fulfill karma. Karma, however, is Dharma in action. In meditation, when all activity of the mind comes to a complete stop and sensory perception is directed inward, it is very easy for the player to slip from the sattvic state of non-doing into dreaming, ending in deep sleep. Here, on the plane of meditation, which is one of the forms of non-doing, tamas is the snake that completely reverses the flow of energy, causing the player to fall back into illusion.

Square 64

Cell64—Phenomenal Plane (Prakriti-Loka)

Meaning of the square

Prakriti is energy in its original form. After the process of creation is completed, as the individual self, or human personality, evolves, the reverse process begins: the self strives to return to its source. In this process the player begins from the physical plane, which he reached in his journey from subtle to gross, and gradually, through karma and spiritual discipline, crosses the seven worlds. If he proves capable of overcoming tamas, he reaches prakriti-loka. Having received the proper sensory experience, the player now approaches the world of ideas. And the source of all creation opens to his understanding.

Square 65

Cell65—Plane Of Inner Space (Uranta-Loka)

Meaning of the square

Uranta-loka is the place where the feeling of a separate self ends. Within a single breath he sees the birth, development, and subsequent destruction of all creation. He sees the illusory nature of all boundaries and distinctions. Having realized the nature of prakriti and the unity underlying all creation, he now merges with that unity. Here there are no feelings or sensations. The self fully realizes itself as the unchanging observer. Here there is neither good nor evil, neither vice nor virtue. The player becomes like a pure crystal transmitting light.

Square 66

Cell66—Plane Of Bliss (Ananda-Loka)

Meaning of the square

Ananda is the primordial experience; all others are only its derivatives. It lies beyond ordinary feelings and is constantly present in the heart of every player. It is impossible to learn about this state from someone else, even from one who has experienced it: personal experience is required. Here only one experience remains, bliss. It is not easy to gain this experience without possessing wisdom and without passing along the path of self-realization.

Square 67

Cell67—Plane Of Cosmic Good (Rudra-Loka)

Meaning of the square

Creation occurs by the will of the Lord, by His will the created is preserved, and in the end it is destroyed. Without the destruction of false self-identification, the concept of separate reality, of the individual ego, true union (yoga) is impossible. Knowledge, feeling, and action: these are the three characteristics of human consciousness. Knowledge of what? Of truth. What feeling? Of the beautiful. What actions? Those leading to the common good. For participants in the game, these three constitute the highest good of human existence.

Square 68

Cell68—Cosmic Consciousness (Vaikuntha-Loka)

Meaning of the square

The ring that serves as the player's symbol on the board returns to its owner's finger; it loses its significance. The game ends. What happens now depends on the player. The nature of the cosmic game is simple: it is the discovery of new combinations. With what new karmas, with what companions, will the player be able to enter the game again, striving once more to find the state that will be his true dwelling place? He may continue this game of hide-and-seek with himself or remain forever beyond the game. Or he may return to earth to help other seekers reach their goal, taking upon himself the role of the twice-born bodhisattva. The choice remains his.

Square 69

Cell69—Plane Of The Absolute (Brahma-Loka)

Meaning of the square

Despite the fact that Brahma-loka is located next to the plane of Cosmic Consciousness, Brahma cannot grant the player liberation. The game must continue. Brahma determines the form of the game, but there is something more here besides form. Only Truth can lead the player to liberation. And now the three gunas await him ahead, and the snake corresponding to tamoguna sooner or later returns the player to Mother Earth. He descends to the level of the sixth chakra, yet now he is armed with an understanding of the principles of the game gained in Brahma-loka. And this can help him reach his goal on earth. The path of spiritual devotion awaits him at a distance of one roll of the die.

Square 70

Cell70—Sattva-Guna

Meaning of the square

Sat means "truth." Having attained liberation, a person sees truth only in Cosmic Consciousness. But that same truth, being connected with the die of karma, becomes subject to the action of the three gunas, the three primary aspects of consciousness (guna means "quality" or "property"). Sattva by itself creates a state of balance. Activity is necessary, and matter must be activated. Sattva-guna is synonymous with such concepts as light, essence, true nature, and the highest levels of vibration. The calm, undisturbed state of meditation leading to samadhi is realized when sattva predominates. Everything that exists contains sattva, rajas, and tamas, so there is nothing colored by only one guna.

Square 71

Cell71—Rajo-Guna

Meaning of the square

Rajo-guna is activity in consciousness, or active consciousness. A player who has reached the eighth row but failed in his attempt to realize Cosmic Consciousness is carried forward by the forces of karma, of activity. Rajo-guna turns a person's attention toward the outer world; if directed inward, rajo-guna becomes inner dialogue. Without transforming tamas into sattva, higher states of consciousness are unattainable. Still, a person can remain in sattva even during activity, using rajo-guna in sattvic work.

Square 72

Cell72—Tamo-Guna

Meaning of the square

Tamo-guna represents differentiated energy in consciousness. Within it shines the light of sattva, yet because of ignorance and lack of initiation it cannot develop on its own. For that, rajas is necessary; then sattva can manifest and, reaching the earth, take on a new form with the help of karma. Tamo-guna conceals the truth so that a rope seems to be a snake, and a snake seems to be a rope. Darkness is the main sign of tamo-guna, and its nature is passivity. A player who lands here immediately leaves the level of cosmic forces and returns to earth in search of a new path of ascent. What happens next depends only on the player and on the One Who is Truth.