DIAGRAM 1

In these diagrams we have a simplification of the ideal organization of the humans psyche and a clear
map of its functions. The I, or Personality, is at the center of the Field of Consciousness ( see 4 in
diagram 2). The I is directly connected with the Higher Self (see 6 in diagram 2) through the medium of
Intuition (see 6 in diagram 1). All other faculties are organized around this center by means of the power
of Will (7 in diagram 1). In this ideal condition the I, or Personality, follows the directions descending
from an higher plane that we can call the Higher Unconscious or Superconscious (3 in diagram 2). This
higher plane is the abode of the Higher Self. Actually the Personality is only a projection of the Higher
Self on a lower plane, the Middle Unconscious (see 2 in diagram 2), as a wave is only a wrinkle of the
Oceans surface.
DIAGRAM 2

The voice of the Higher Self can reach the Personality in the form of intuitions, inspirations, meaningful
dreams, visions, insights and what the psychologist Maslow calls peak experiences (A. Maslow, 1964,
Religion, values and peak experiences.) But this can happen only if the Personality leaves enough
space to the Higher Self for manifesting itself in our daily lives. Creativity, morality, and the opening
towards the transcendent, are all different forms of manifestation of the Higher Self in the I
consciousness plane. Especially when the I is not only concerned about itself, but also considers the
needs of others, it is a clear sign of the influence of the Higher Self at the level of the Personality. As
from the peak of a mountain you can see all the vegetation and the animals as part of a unique entity, so
from the Superconscious level the Self perceives all the living beings as part of the same reality. On the
contrary, a Personality that has lost its connection with the Higher Self, considers only its own profit,
disregarding others and the surrounding environment. As we have a Superconscious, there is also a
Lower Unconscious level in our psyche. This is the place for the instincts, urges, and impulses. The Lower
Unconscious is also the place where we hide whatever is too hard to accept and deal with. It is the
storehouse of all the repressions and undigested energies. We can say that as the Superconscious is
the abode of the Self, the Lower Unconscious is the abode of the Shadow. The Shadow is the
personification of all our fears, hidden and forbidden desires; of all those energies that we are not able
to know, accept, and transform. Being disconnected from the Higher Self, it is very easy to fall under the
influence of the Shadow. A Shadow Personality is completely dominated by the Lower Unconscious
urges and desires, thus disregarding everything and everybody. Such a Personality usually is obsessed
with power and supremacy. Reading the biographies of great criminals and dictators, we can get a clear
picture of what it means to have a personality completely disconnected from the Higher Self and utterly
under the control of the Shadow. These are pathological and extreme situations. But even in our
ordinary, daily lives, we are all the time called to decide between following the voice of our Superconsciousness (the Higher Self) or the voice of the Shadow coming from the Lower Unconscious. For
instance, in the face of a difficult situation we can decide to react with anger or fear, or we can take a
step back, de-identify ourselves self from the situation, and find a peaceful way to solve the problem. It
is up to us to decide.
A kind of Personality that has lost the connection with the Higher Self is very much concerned about
itself rather than others. Please, as mentioned above, remember that the Personality is only a reflection
of the Higher Self. Therefore, the Personality that is disconnected from its own source of being tries to
protect creating artificial, false, identities. These are called Sub-personalities, or Masks. If the link
between the Higher Self and the I is broken, the feeling of living a meaningless life may follow.
Depressions, unjustified anxieties and neurotic behaviors might sprout out from this lack of a higher
meaning in life. In this case the I might:
1- Try to reconnect with the source of meaning, the Higher Self;
2- Protect itself behind different Masks through the power of identification;
3- Fall under the influence of the Shadow.

Masks are formed from habitual behaviors, feelings, and ways of thinking, with which we so deeply
identify that, in the end, we mistake them for ourselves. With time we collect a certain number of
behavioral modes, or masks, which become Sub-personalities.

Some Masks are bad and harmful for ourselves and others. Others might be useful and positive masks.
But all the Masks are artificial, socially created, and somehow false compared to the real Personality. To
a certain degree, we all need Masks to deal with society and conventional reality. The problems begin
when we completely identify with one or some of them.
Exercise: can you list some of your Masks? Are they good, useful or harmful? Can you name them?
The man of our poster has lost his connection with the Higher Self and has completely identified with his
Masks: I am a holy, powerful Brahmin, I.P.S., official, BA, MBA . But all these Masks are false. They
might be useful in society to gain prestige, power and money, but at the moment of death, when only
what is real counts, they are completely useless. A well balanced Personality (see diagram 2) uses these
Masks wisely for dealing with the conventional reality, and follows the intuition which descends from
the Higher Self. In this case, the Masks are just useful tools. In an un-balanced Personality, the Masks
take in charge according to the situation and, often, they became the medium through which the
Shadow tries to satisfy its hidden goals: power, control over others, desires, urges, destruction of
enemies, vengeance, etc. But Yama reminds our friend that all this is not of any use for his next
destination. Yama has a book where he can read the truth; he can see beyond the Masks and look at
what you really are. This book is the Mind. It is the Field of Consciousness (Superconscious, Middle
Unconscious, and Lower Unconscious) where we have planted our seeds through our virtuous and wise
actions or through our un-virtuous and un-wise actions.
We can read the diagram 2 from a psychological (microcosmic) point of view, or from a cosmological
(macrocosmic) point of view. In this case we will have:

1= Hell region
2= Earth or Middle Region
3= Heaven region
4= our personal world
5= I
6= God
8= the Devil
7= the source of everything; the boundless Ocean of Consciousness.
So, depending on the Field of Consciousness that we nurture the most, our reality or our world, will be
determined. This will be especially true at the moment of death when we cannot cheat Yama and hide
ourselves beyond our lies. When we have to leave our body, the only thing we will carry with us is our
Mind and its contents. Our mind will take us to different levels of reality according to the level of our
consciousness or un-consciousness. Hell is the manifestation of the lowest collective unconscious
energies. If we have spent all our lives following the directions of the Shadow, we will spoil our and the
lives of others, and we will end up in Hell. As Lama Yeshe, a great Tibetan Buddhist master, said:
It is not as if someone in a place called Hell built that iron house, lit the blazing fire, and
thought, Aha! I am waiting for Thubten Yeshe. Soon he will die and come here. Im
ready for him! It is not like that. Hell does not exist in that way. The reality is that at the
time of death, the powerful energy of the previous negative actions of that being,
existing as imprints on its mind, is awakened, or activated, and creates that beings
experience of intense suffering, which we call Hell. Hell does not exist by its own side;
the negative mind makes it up. (Lama Yeshe, 2003, Becoming the Compassion Buddha.
Tantric Mahamudra for Everyday Life.)

It is as if our physical body, while we are still alive, contains and holds all the different impressions of our
habitual actions, words, and thoughts. But, at the moment of death, these energies are released, and
are free to be manifested in different forms and ways, creating corresponding environments suitable for
their full manifestation. This is the origin of hells and heavens and of ordinary reality as well. Ultimately,
it is our mind that creates the external reality - the world in which we are living. And the quality of our
reality depends on the level of our consciousness. Are we always following the requests of our Lower
Unconscious, or are we listening to the intuitions coming from the Super Conscious, the voice of our
Real Self? Are we only concerned about ourselves, our names and fame, or are we also considering

others as parts of the same All? Heaven and Hell depend on us on our state of mind! Look at your
mind and you will understand if you are contributing the creation of heaven or hell on earth.
Exercise: Think of a situation in which you have followed the voice of the Shadow. Now, think of a
situation in which you have followed the voice of the Higher Self. Can you tell the difference? Do they
taste different? How did you feel after these different situations? How did others feel after these
different situations?
It is because of ignorance that we are unable to realize that the dualistic separation between in and out,
matter and spirit, body and mind, inner and outer, me and others, etc., is only illusory. To recognize the
creative power of our mind is to dispel the darkness of ignorance and to realize our authentic divine
reality.
MEDITATION

Sit comfortably. Close your eyes. Relax your body and empty your mind. Now imagine that the lower
part of your body is filled with water. The lower part of your body is now like a little lake. The level of
the water reaches your belly. The waters are peaceful but a little muddy and unclear. From the depth of
the waters a beautiful blue lotus flower sprouts up. It is deeply rooted on the muddy bottom of the lake,
the lowest part of your body. Its stem runs up halfway through the waters of the lake, up to your belly,
and halfway through the open space, up to your hearth region, towards the rays of the Sun. The lotus
flower is wide open to catch the warmth and the light of a clear and bright noon Sun, residing on the top
of your head. As you breathe in, the lotus flower closes its blue colored petals. As you breathe out, the
lotus flower opens its blue colored petals. It opens and closes, following the natural rhythm of your
breathe. The lotus receives nutrience from both the muddy bottom of the lake, at the lowest level of
your body (the Lower Unconscious), and from the light of the Sun at the top of your head (the Super
conscious). Go on with this visualization until you feel it is fully established inside of yourself. Then
dissolve it into empty space. Please, remember that whenever you wish, you can go back to it and the
sweet fragrance and beauty of the lotus flower in your heart will expand in all the directions.