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Causal plane is a term used inNeo-Theosophy, some contemporaryVedanta, theNew Age, (especially somechannelled communications), and sometimesOccultism, to describe a high spiritualplane of existence. However, there is great variation between the different definitions.
The Neo-theosophy ofAnnie Besant andC. W. Leadbeater replacedBlavatsky's "Higher Manas" principle with the "Higher Mental", "Abstract Mind" (as opposed to Lower Mental or "Concrete Mind"), or Causal Body. The equivalent cosmic plane is the Causal Plane. A detailed description of the Causal Plane, along with the Causal Body, is provided by A. E. Powell, who has compiled information in the works of Besant and Leadbeater in a series of books on each of the subtle bodies.
The Neo-theosophical concept of Causal Plane proved very influential both in India (via theAdyar branch of Theosophy) and in theNew Age, viaAlice Bailey.
Satguru Sivaya Subramuniyaswami incorporates Theosophical ideas into the traditional Hindu Vediccosmology, when he describes three worlds of existence (triloka) asBhuloka orphysical plane,Antarloka or thesubtle orastral plane, andSivaloka ("World of Siva") or the causal plane or Karanaloka, the world of theGods and highly developedsouls. About this latter he says
The causal plane is the world of light and blessedness, the highest of heavenly regions, extolled in the scriptures of all faiths. It is the foundation of existence, the source of visions, the point of conception, the apex of creation. The causal plane is the abode of Lord Siva and His entourage of Mahadevas and other highly evolved souls who exist in their own self-effulgent form—radiant bodies ofcentillions ofquantum light particles.
He further says that this region, present as the clear white light that illumines the mind, can be accessed through the three higherchakras, thevishuddha,ajna andsahasrara[1]
Although Neo-theosophy presents the sequence Physical-Astral-Mental-Causal, in the jargon of someastral travelling teachings, the causal plane is the one just above the astral plane. According to the Astral Voyage website (seeglossary) this is the region wherememories and karmic patterns are stored, and where a practitioner can access information regarding the past and future.
The complex metaphysics of the Channelled entity Michael includes a description of the universe in terms of seven planes. These are the Physical plane, the Astral plane, the Causal plane, the Akashic plane, the Mental plane, the Messianic plane, and the Buddhaic plane. Here the Causal plane is the third plane of creation, and its medium is concrete intellectual energy. InThe Michael Teachings, this is Michael's plane of existence.[2]