The Sense of Touch in the esoteric world

What are the senses? How many are there? And what is their connection with the indwelling Man, the Thinker? These are questions of vital importance and in their due comprehension comes the ability  to follow wisely the path of knowledge.

As regards taste and smell, we might call them minor senses, for they are closely allied to the important sense of touch. They are practically subsidiary to this sense. This second sense, and its connection with this second solar system, should be carefully pondered over. It is predominantly the sense most closely connected with the second Logos. This conveys a hint of much value if duly considered. It is of value to study the extensions of touch on the physical level and  other levels and see whither we are led.

In this connection, we should study likewise the value of touch as demonstrated by the healers of the race (those on the Bodhisattva line) and the effect of the Law of Attraction and Repulsion such as handled by them. Students of etymology will have noted that the origin of the word touch is somewhat obscure, but probably means to 'draw with quick motion.'

Astral-buddhic consciousness is the term applied to the basic consciousness in our solar system. It is characterized by emotion, by feeling, sensation, which have eventually to be transmuted into intuition, spiritual perception and unity. Each of these senses, after having reached a certain point, begins to synthesize with the others in such a way that it is almost impossible to know where one begins and the other ends. Touch is that innate recognition of contact through the exercise of manas or mind in a threefold manner: as recognition, as memory, as anticipation.

The three major senses and the three first to reveals an order are, hearing, touch and sight. For the greater part of evolution, hearing is the guiding impulse of human life through egoic contact with the top of the head. Later, when the Ego descends a little lower, the etheric centre which is active in connection with the pituitary body, is added, and man becomes responsive to subtler and higher vibrations; the occult correspondence to the physical sense of touch awakens. Finally, the third eye opens and the pineal gland simultaneously begins to function. At first, the sight is dim, and the gland is only partially responsive to vibration, but gradually the eye opens fully, the gland is fully active, and we have the "fully awakened" man. When this is the case, the center called alta major vibrates and then the three physical head centers are functioning.

A Treatise on Cosmic Fire