In Yoga, Consciousness is
Like a 3-Layer Cake
Sitting on a Plate

2-layer cake perspective

2-layer cake: People often speak of consciousness as if it were only a 2-layer cake, having 1) the external world, and 2) the internal world. (The 3-layer cake metaphor will be seen to be more complete than that of the 2-layer cake.)

The top layer of the cake represents ourselves as the physical, mental, emotional self we know so well, which engages the people and objects of the external world. The icing on top represents our engagement with the other people and objects of the world.

The bottom layer of the cake represents our unconscious or subconscious processes. It might be considered the place of our "soul" (or whatever you want to call it). Between the top and bottom layers, there is a layer of icing, which represents the transition we know as reverie between waking and dreaming states. Or, it can also represent the transition between life and death of the physical body.

In this 2-layer model, there seems to be (1) the gross world, and (2) the subtle, psychic, astral, or spiritual world; again, two worlds. We may speak of astral travel in the subtle realms, or of the possibility (or probability) of reincarnation, as we travel from here to there, and back again, cycling over and over between the two layers.

However, in the metaphor of the 2-layer cake, we do not raise questions like, "Out of what do all of the objects of the subtle or spiritual realm arise? If 'I' am in the subtle or spiritual realm, who is this 'I' and out of what has it manifested?" The view of consciousness being like a 2-layer cake is seen to be incomplete.

3-layer cake perspective

3-layer cake: The 3-layer cake is a more complete metaphor. There is an external world (as with the 2-layer cake), but the internal world has two major layers, not just one.

The top layer of the cake represents ourselves as the physical, mental, emotional self we know so well, which engages the people and objects of the external world, as with the 2-layer cake. The icing on top represents our engagement with the other people and objects of the world. Between the top and middle layers, the icing represents the reverie transition between waking and dreaming states. Or, it can also represent the transition between life and death of the physical body. (See A of AUM, Waking)

The middle layer of the cake represents the subtle realm of reality, along with our unconscious mental processing (pictures and sounds) and the dreaming state of sleep. This is like the subtle level of the 2-layer cake, where one might have many experiences. Between the middle and bottom layers, the icing represents the transition or bursting forth between the unmanifest and the subtle forms. The objects of the subtle realm have been born, so to speak, out of this seed potential. Similarly, our individual characteristics, in their latent or seed form, transform or morph (somewhat like computer animations) out of the bottom or seed level, into the subtle level. (See U of AUM, Dreaming)

The bottom layer of the cake is the causal level, out of which both the subtle and the gross realities emerge. This level (not seen in the 2-layer cake) is also the repository of the seed characteristics, which form our individual identity. We need to know and experience this level so as to transcend both this level and our individuality. Awareness of this critical, key level is missing for most people because of following the 2-layer cake philosophy. Usually, we only experience our characteristics (including attractions, aversions, and fears) as they play out either in dreams or as actions and speech in the external world. Here, we are talking about encountering these in their latent or seed form, which is formless, unmanifest. Here, they can more truly be attenuated or reduced, allowing us to experience our individuality as free or separate from these conditionings.

It is important to note that at this third level, all sensory experience and the senses themselves have receded into the ground out of which they had emerged. This is past the stage of Yoga called Pratyahara, the withdrawal of the senses. There are no pictures, words, or thoughts in the conventional sense of thinking. There is a bliss of sorts as all of the otherwise disturbing or distracting mental objects and the sensory mind are at rest. Direct, conscious experience of this level is the domain of authentic traditional Yoga Nidra, or conscious deep sleep. (See M of AUM, Deep Sleep, and Yoga Sutras 2.1-2.9, 2.10-2.11, 2.12-2.25. This third level is described throughout the article on Yoga Nidra.)

The plate on which the whole cake rests represents the pure consciousness, which supports and permeates the three layers of the cake, as well as the icing. (See Silence after AUM, Fourth State)

The reason the 3-layer cake is significant is that the spiritual seeker who seeks only the second layer of the 2-layer cake will completely miss the higher truths, the level of Self-realization. There may be exciting experiences and visions, or visits to the subtle planes, but that is far short of the highest Joy of Self-realization or the Realization in direct experience of the Absolute reality, which is not subject to death, decay or decomposition.

It is necessary to see and understand that both the subtle and gross realms have emerged from the causal, and that this causal holds the seeds of manifestation of our individual identities, as well as all of the other people and objects.

When we consciously know this causal level of the latent subconscious and deep sleep, we can also go beyond, into the realization of the pure consciousness or Self, which is without characteristic or form, but pure, uniform being, which has been called sat-chit-ananda, or the nature of existence-consciousness-bliss.