The Alchemical Path: An Analysis of Subtle Anatomy, Mental Transcendence, and Union in Yogic and Tantric Traditions
The Alchemical Path: An Analysis of Subtle Anatomy, Mental Transcendence, and Union in Yogic and Tantric Traditions Part I: The Cartography of the Inner Cosmos The journey towards spiritual liberation, as delineated in the Yogic and Tantric traditions, is not a vague aspiration but a systematic process grounded in a sophisticated understanding of human existence. This understanding extends beyond the gross physical body ( Annamaya Kosha ) to encompass a subtle anatomy of energy and a nuanced psychological framework of the mind. Before the methodologies of transformation can be applied, one must first comprehend the map of this inner cosmos. This cartography comprises two fundamental domains: the energetic blueprint of the subtle body, through which the life force ( prana ) flows, and the "inner instrument" ( Antahkarana ), the complex, multi-functional structure of the mind. It is upon this terrain that the alchemical work of purification and transcendence is performed, lea...