THE ROBE OF LIGHT AND THE VESSEL OF THE SOUL

“Bless the Lord; my soul: O Lord God, thou are great indeed, clothed in majestic and splendor, and wrapped in a robe of light.” Psalm 104

As humans, we know there is something more to us than meets the eye. We know its there. We intuit its presence. We look for it in the mirror. We know it is what is looking.  We seek its secrets and guard it once discovered.

Many spiritual traditions propose the something that is looking is our soul. 

It originated in a divine realm, “clothed in majestic and splendor, and wrapped in a robe of light”. It ascends and descends eternally on the path of souls.

Billions of people believe that in our next life our soul will ascend to a more enlightened place. 

In Christianity, Earth life is viewed as a temporary arrangement known as the “Vale of Tears” through which we pass as exiles, as aliens, as strangers in a strange land enroute to our true home in heaven. 

This raises questions. 

For instance, where was our soul before this incarnation, this walk through the Vale of Tears? 

Where did yours come from? 

How did yours get here? 

Why are you here? 

When it is time to leave, where are you going and how are you going to get there? 

These are the questions asked by the conscious ascender, the illumined soul. 

If you have contemplated any of these questions it is likely that you did so in response to your soul’s call to ascension.

That last question is especially important. Where are you going and how are you going to get there?

In other words, what is your plan?

We make holiday plans, career plans, family plans, financial plans, health plans, but what is your soul ascension plan?

Many of the answers will differ. Some believe the journey is all pre-arranged, pre-booked. Others believe practice is involved. Still others seek further assistance (like an instruction manual). 

Something I have observed from surveying many of the world’s spiritual traditions is that, while the answers to ‘the ascension questions’ may vary, there is only one answer to one vital additional question. Answering it solves all the other questions. 

Here it is.

What you will wearing when you get there? 

According to numerous spiritual traditions, when you ascend you will be wearing a robe or garment of light (like the one David referred to in the psalm above). 

In fact, it may also be stated that you will know you have ascended when you realize you are wearing the robe of light (once again).  It will be an energetic form. Light. Divine. Eternal. True. Radiant. Jewel-like.

Every spiritual tradition has a name for our ‘super’ ascended body. In Sufism it is called “the most sacred body” and “supracelestial body”. Taoists call it “the diamond body,” and those who have attained it are called “the immortals,” “the cloudwalkers” and “the Starwalkers”. Yogic schools and Tantrics call it “the divine body.” In Kriya yoga it is called “the body of bliss.” In Vedanta it is called “the superconductive body.” In the alchemical tradition it “the golden body.” The Tibetans call it the “Rainbow Light Body”. Christianity calls it the “glory body,” “resurrection body” or “born again body”.

THE VESSEL 

In many traditions, this light body / robe of the soul (as the Gnostics called it) is thought of as a ‘vehicle’ or ‘vessel’ in which the soul’s journey is made. The light body is the vehicle / vessel / ship of the soul. It serves as the soul’s vessel because the light body / robe of the soul and the vehicle / vessel / ship are the same. 

My soul is an enchanted boat. Painters and visionaries with opened mind’s eyes glimpsed the boat of eternity. Walter Crane was one such artist. His painting, My Soul Is An Enchanted Boat, captures the ancient Egyptian teaching. In maritime law, the term “soul” on board a ship refers to the number of people present on the vessel.

For example, in Hebrew mysticism the soul wears the robe of light as it rides its divine light vehicle, the Merkaba chariot or ship of light, into higher realms. (It is quite possible that you rode just such a soul boat to here.)

The Old Testament prophet, Elijah, ascended into heaven in a whirlwind upon his chariot of the gods (2 Kings 2:13). As he rose he passed his holy robe to his priest and protege, Elisha. Just as Elijah used this robe to perform miracles, Elisha used it to divide the waters of the River Jordan. 

Elisha’s story shows this garment was transmittable, indicating that it is quite likely a teaching (or realization) as well as an actual, material garment.

Baptism by da Vinci and Vecchio.

Two angels hold the robe for Jesus in this baptism painting attributed to Leonardo. Jesus received this robe during His Baptism in the Jordan’s waters. He then demonstrated its force during His Transfiguration when His face shone like the sun, His robe became dazzling white, and Moses and Elijah appeared and talked with Him (Matthew 17:1-4). Mary Magdalene received this robe upon her ascension. 

Transfiguration by Fra Angelico.

In Tibetan Buddhism, the soul undergoes a process of intentional transformation (transfiguration) until with enough compassion, love and wisdom it reaches the highest state of divine enlightenment. The soul radiates rainbow colored light and dissolves the physical body into its primordial essence, which (is akin) to plasma. In this swirling, plasmoid Rainbow Light Body it transcends earth life and travels to other realms. If you look carefully at the thangka shown here you can see the distinct outline of a portal or a gateway. 

Padmasambhava in the plasma Rainbow Light Body.

In shamanic traditions, the soul’s journey through the non-physical realms also involves the use of the light body. Shamans use their light body as a vessel to interact with spiritual guides and ancestors, bring in healing energies, and travel to other worlds. 

I feel the Robe of Light is enfolded in the Norse myth of Freyr’s magic ship, Skidbladnir. When docked and no longer needed, it can be folded like a cloth and carried in a belt pouch. When needed, it opens and the entire army of Aesir gods can ride up on it.

But, what is our relationship to the light body while living…today? 

Is it something that is automatically manifested or realized? 

Or, does the soul begin to seek its mysteries when it is ready to heal and ascend?

If so, how do we manifest / realize this light body while living? 

The robe of light may not be something that we acquire or recover, as much as it is something we uncover or remember from within. It is woven of light, whose frequency is covered over by false perceptions about who we are and identification with our flesh and blood bodies rather than our light bodies. It has always been there, awaiting (y)our unveiling. 

As Michelangelo said, “every block of stone has a statue inside it and it is the task of the sculptor to discover it. I saw the angel in the marble and carved until I set him free.”

The common threads linking the light body traditions include discussions and teachings about:

The human body as a sacred temple and how to activate the light body within it.

A lost sacrament. An oil, an elixir, a secretion. 

Multiple universes and the divine beings who dwell there.

Practices, paramitas or perfections, including kindness, gentleness, righteousness, patience, compassion, generosity, gratitude,  making an heroic effort at self-realization/ascension. 

In fact, there are a multitude of tools and techniques to understand, and unlock, the power of our light body.

Millions of people are utilizing these tools today. In fact, there has never been a time in human history where millions upon millions of people are actualizing their light bodies (sometimes without realizing it). They are doing so through meditation, prayer, visualization, breath work, Tai Chi, Qi Gong, travel to sacred places and other practices that awaken the divine with in and “wash our robe of light” of the karmic goo and gunk we have accumulated in order to rise and shine. What is additionally needed is focus on the light body form.

As an art historian and sacred art aficionado, I have learned something particularly amazing about the light body. The ancients believed that sacred art represents doorways and sacred mirrors. Buddhists believe that by gazing into the image or painting of Padmasambhava in the Rainbow Light Body, for example, our eternal self is revealed. More, as an Avatar, Padmasambhava is capable of transmitting the vibration of the Rainbow Body through the painting. One can enter his frequency through the image. Christianity has a similar belief.

The more we gaze the more our true self emerges. 

As the mirror neurons in your cerebral cortex react as if you are the one who is illuminated, your imagination fires with awe and wonder. Your brain paints pictures of illumination. A transference takes place. In a moment of pure concentration or samadhi we can even merge our consciousness with the avatar before us. The object of concentration (the image of Padmasambhava, for instance) and the mind that is trying to concentrate or meditate become one.

Resurrection. Jan Van Eyck.

So, perhaps you’ll try it now. Focus you gaze on Christ in the Resurrection Light Body in Jan Van Eyck’s painting. Based on the understanding of art as a sacred mirror and its power to illuminate the light body, open your palms to receive His light. Match his hands. His Gaze. Receive His Glow. Mirror His halo and His feet. Visualize your entire body glowing, not just you hands. Imagine the Robe of Light being offered to you. Go ahead and try it on. See yourself wrapped in a robe of light.

Now, reach in your pocket and pull out the ship tucked inside.