World of Philosophy

Author(s): Christopher Key Chapple, Intaj Malek, Dilip Charan, Sunanda Shastri, Prashant Dave
Publisher: Shanti Prakashan

Page 118

Lataif, Chakras and Leshyas
Dr. Intaj Malek 'Lataif is an Islamic or rather Sufi term which means the subtle centres or elements of creation or psycho spiritual energy centres. Singularly it is called Latifa. Lataif are considered as psychospiritual organs or faculty of sensory or suprasensory perception. These Lataif are sometimes thought to be parts of the self in similar manner as the glands and organs are part of the body. Vedic Chakras of Hindu tradition and Leshyas of Jainism are the similar concepts in Indian Religious traditions.
The concept of Lataif is drawn from the Holy Quran by Sufis. All Sufis distinguish Lataif-as-Sitta-the six subtleties namely Latifat-an-Nafsi, Latifat-al-Qalbi, Latifat-as-Sirri, Latifat-ar-Ruhi, Latifat-al-Khafi, and Latifatal-Akhfa. Some Sufi Schools add one more Latifa which is known as Latifatal-Qalib. Shaikh Ahmed Sirhindi the greatest Sufi said that humans are made of ten Lata'if or elements of creation. Five of them pertain to Alam-e-Amr (the divine world, and the rest five pertain to Alam-e-Khalq (Created world). The five lata'if of Alam-e-Amr are Qalb, Ruh, Sirr, Khafi and Akhfa. The five lata'if of Alam-e-Khalq are Nafs, Soil (solid), Water (liquid), Air (gas) and Fire (energy).However, for the sake of convenience seven lata'if are acknowledged and accepted by most of the sufi orders. The four such as soil, water, air and fire are jointly called Latifa Qalbia with reference to Qalib -the corporeal human body. Latifa Qalbia is also referred to as Sultan al-Azkar in many Sufi orders. At the outset, it is pertinent to discuss these Lataif in detail and then to reflect upon their counterparts in other religious traditions. Latifat-an-Nafsi ( the lower self):
This latifa is located a little below the navel, and it is yellow in colour. Some believe that it is located between the eyebrows and its colour is blue. The word nafs is generally translated as self or psyche. Etymologically it is rooted in "breath" (similar to Biblical or Kabbalisticnefesh) and is common to almost all archaic psychologies where the act of breathing was connected with life, animating otherwise lifeless object. In this respect, ancient notions of "Atman" in Hinduism or Greek "pneuma" as well as Latin "spiritus" -all associate the basic visible process of breathing with stimulating principle that presents existence to an individual human being. Some Sufis consider that the term "Nafs" takes into its ambit the entire psychological processes, encompassing whole mental, emotional and volitional life; however, the majority of Sufis are of the opinion that Nafs is a "lower", egotistical and passionate human nature which comprises vegetative and animal aspects of human life. The third Chakra of Vedic tradition, namely Manipur Chakra is also considered a seat of emotions. It gives a sense of personal power in the world and it manifests anger or a sense of victimization.
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