What Are Material Bodies?
Different Types of Bodies
Autobiography of a Yogi contains some of the most detailed information about our material bodies. It explains that a soul, being invisible by nature, can only be distinguished by the presence of its bodies — bodies that are only made possible by unfulfilled desires (43:361) in the material universe. So while it can be said that we are eternal souls and not temporary material bodies, unliberated souls are obligated to take care of their material bodies because they are the costumes we wear to engage in spiritual activities and worldly pursuits in the material universe.
Material bodies can go by different names including body complexes, encasements (Autobiography of a Yogi, 43:360), meat suits, and avatars. We’re defining the complete material body as the vehicle unliberated souls can use to navigate, perceive, and permit growth in the material universe (Law of One, 105:16). Some would consider the material body to be a construct or a simulation of neural processing creating the illusion of embodiment. Could this explain why entities feel sensations in limbs that no longer exist, also referred to phantom limb syndrome?
What types of material bodies do we have? Unliberated souls are thought to be encased by three different types of material bodies, according to the Bhagavad Gita (2:28). Like the corresponding material planes of existence, material bodes are categorized as causal, subtle astral, and gross physical, as explained by Autobiography of a Yogi (43:354). Could they also be conceptually synonymous with the mind/body/spirit complex referred to in the Law of One (82:17-24)?
We won’t delve into gender or distinguish between male and female biological bodies. When we refer to gender, it’s typically in the context of the complementary feminine (love or being) and masculine (wisdom or doing) principles, which coincide with The Kybalion’s principle of gender (39-41). According to the Law of One (5:2), each biological male is considered female and vice versa. Therefore, we resonate with the concept of viewing gender as a spectrum.
Light Integration
Our research suggests that as a space or form integrates more light, it vibrates faster and becomes more densely packed to occupy the form or space more efficiently. This results in higher levels of awareness in that form or space because there is more information or intelligence per square inch. Is this why a level 5 consciousness blue ray body is said to process way more information than a level 3 consciousness yellow ray body? For example, the Law of One (47:8) explains that the subtle astral body is packed more densely with light than the gross physical body. And it can change shape because it exists at a higher vibration of electromagnetism than the gross physical body. Could this mean that on higher planes of existence and environmental densities, thoughts can manifest more directly?
Could this also mean that since the gross physical body exists in a lower density, its light is expressed more like solid particles rather than waves? Perhaps this could be possible because of wave-particle duality. Mainstream physics shows that at the quantum level, everything is a wave until it’s measured (interacted with). In esoteric physics, the measurement is essentially the vibration of the plane of existence we inhabit. Ergo, because the 3rd density has a slower vibration, light crystallizes (stabilizes) into particles.
Think of it in the context of our three bodies being states of water. The gross physical body is like ice — slower light (apara prakriti, gross matter) with high crystallization (stabilization) and low mobility, spread out into rigid, particle-like structures, and existing where divine light is most veiled. The subtle astral body is like water — faster flowing light (para prakriti) with higher mobility and a higher concentration that can change shape, but still retains a form or discernable vibration. The causal body is like steam — expansive light that’s a higher-frequency wave or probability field (purest para prakriti) that’s nearly indistinguishable from divine light, and contains the blueprint of the other two bodies.
Gross Physical Body
Human Body (Mainstream Science)
In the eyes of mainstream science, the human body is viewed more like a highly complex, self-regulating biological machine. It’s organized into a strict hierarchy: it begins at the microscopic level with cells, which group together to form tissues (like muscle), which then combine to create organs (like the heart), and finally coordinate as organ systems (like the circulatory system). These systems are said to work in constant harmony through a process called homeostasis. This is the body’s way of maintaining a stable internal environment — such as keeping our temperature steady — regardless of changes in the world outside.
Chemically, it’s said that the body is roughly 45-70% water and is built primarily from just four elements: oxygen, carbon, hydrogen, and nitrogen. These elements combine to form the four essential building blocks of life: carbohydrates for energy, lipids (fats) for storage and cell walls, proteins for structure and machinery, and nucleic acids (DNA) which act as the instructional manual for building and operating the entire human body.
To keep this machine running, it has to be sustained by a constant exchange with our environment. This is done through metabolism. What is metabolism? It’s the process of converting nutrients (from food) and oxygen (from the air) into the energy we need to move, grow, and repair cells. Beyond physical fuel, the human body is also sustained by a sophisticated nervous system and endocrine (hormonal) system. They act like electrical wiring and chemical messengers, allowing the brain to communicate with every part of our body to ensure survival.
Human Body (Esoteric Science)
According to esoteric and Yogic teachings, the human body or gross physical body (sthula sarira) is the temporary vehicle the soul uses to experience gross physical planes of existence. It allows consciousness (in the waking state) to perceive and interact with gross material objects and environments. Is the gross physical body what the Law of One (30:2) refers to as the body complex — the complex of interrelated gross materials stemming from the plane of existence we experience? The gross physical body is also the form we use to work out our accumulated gross physical plane karma (prarabdha). Could it also be the best form for us to quickly burn up all of our karmic seeds and accelerate liberation from the material universe?
The gross physical body is said to be comprised of the annamaya kosha. Of the three bodies, it’s considered the only one that perishes or decomposes after death. Ergo, we receive a different gross physical body with each incarnation. The gross physical body is also considered to be animated by the subtle astral body and surrounded by the etheric energy field layer, which acts as its energetic blueprint. Consisting of flesh and bone — including tissues, cells, molecules, and atoms — it houses the 5 sense organs (eyes, ears, nose, tongue, skin). Autobiography of a Yogi (43:366) explains that when we’re sensuously intent on tasting, smelling, touching, listening, or seeing, we’re working primarily through this body.
The gross physical body also houses endocrine glands that are said to correspond with the energy centers of our subtle astral bodies. For example, the pineal gland corresponds to the third eye energy center. Once the pineal gland is activated it’s said to produce melatonin — controlling our circadian rhythms and reproductive hormones. Mainstream scientific research suggests that the pineal gland contains calcite microcrystals. Do these microcrystals allow the brain to pick up high-frequency electromagnetic signatures from the ether that the rest of the body is too dense to perceive?
It’s thought that we need a daily intake of the gross elements (earth, wind, fire, water) to maintain our gross physical bodies since life force energy is extracted from the gross elements. It’s also these elements which our gross physical bodies return back to after death (Bhagavad Gita, 2:18) or after our bodies stop extracting life force energy.
Subtle Astral Body
Energetic Blueprint
The subtle astral body (sukshma sharira) is considered the energetic blueprint. It’s surrounded by the emotional, mental, and astral energy field layers. It serves as a mechanism for life force energy circulation, which it draws from the material universe and distributes throughout the gross physical body via the nadis (channels) and energy centers (chakras). It’s said that the subtle astral body also interacts with and reflects consciousness, as well as animates the gross physical body. Ergo, it carries the subtle principles that govern our inner experiences on gross physical planes, expressing our samskaras (karmic patterns) throughout each incarnation.
Is the subtle astral body what the Law of One (30:2) considers a mind complex? A mind complex reflects the inpourings of the spirit complex and the up-pourings of the body complex. According to Autobiography of a Yogi (43:356), the subtle astral body exists in astral realms while simultaneously being anchored to and surrounding the gross physical body. Ergo, it’s relatively the same size and shape as the gross physical body, acting as a counterpart to the most recent gross physical body. The subtle astral body is said to link the causal and gross physical bodies during birth and separate them after death, acting as a gateway between metaphysical and physical planes.
How does all of this relate to out-of-body experiences (OBEs) or subtle astral projections? Perhaps the reason we can inhabit a higher density body during an OBE is that we already possess a body for every density of an octave of experience. Ergo, we aren’t creating a new body during these experiences. We’re temporarily flowing our consciousness to one of our inactive bodies to match a higher environmental density plane of existence (environment). We say temporarily because during OBEs it’s suggested that we haven’t permanently ascended to a higher environmental density (attained harvestability), like 4th density. Perhaps the gross physical body acts as a gravitational mechanism that eventually pulls the consciousness back down to its native density.
Composition
For our purposes, we refer to the subtle astral body as being composed of the energy system and mind — 19+ emotional, mental, and life force elements that include the ego, senses, intelligence, energy centers, and energy fields. Autobiography of a Yogi (43:356) further explains that the subtle astral body includes the astral brain and six awakened energy centers in the sushumna channel. Our research further suggests that subtle astral bodies do not actually draw energy/power from oxygen. They’re sustained by cosmic energy, ray-like vegetables, and light nectar or ambrosia, according to the Law of One (43:20-22).
It’s said that subtle astral bodies have all the outer sensory organs. Yet, this body isn’t subject to cold, heat, or other natural conditions. We know, right? Autobiography of a Yogi (43:357) explains that, unlike gross physical bodies cognized by only the 5 senses, the subtle astral body uses intuitional feeling to see, hear, smell, taste, and touch. The subtle astral mind is considered to be pretty sensitive and subject to mental agonies. Autobiography of a Yogi further explains that the body can be bruised or cut, but it can also heal itself at will. Entities are also able to materialize forms, offspring, and objects at will using life force energy and mantras.
Communication with subtle astral bodies is said to be entirely through telepathy. While subtle astral entities possess three eyes, it’s suggested that the third eye is the only one fully open. While the subtle astral body is typically beyond our general perception and ordinary physical senses, but we can tap into it with higher levels of awareness and intuition. According to Autobiography of a Yogi (43:366), when we’re visualizing or manifesting in a physical realm, we’re working mainly through the subtle astral body. The life span of subtle astral bodies is typically much longer than gross physical bodies — approximately 500 – 1000 years, according to Autobiography of a Yogi (43:359).
Causal Body
Seed Form
Our research suggests that the causal body (karana sharira) is the seed-form of a soul’s individuality, being the most refined and subtlest of the three material bodies. It acts as the storehouse or repository for all seed-form karma –sanchita, unmanifested, potential karma. The causal body is also said to hold the soul’s spiritual blueprint (spiritual DNA), accumulated experiences, core patterns, and contracts for all current and future incarnations. In this context, could the causal body store pertinent information while the subtle astral body expresses it as samskaras in each incarnation? Samskaras are considered the core emotions, habits, attachments, and residual imprints that shape one’s character.
According to Autobiography of a Yogi (43:366), nearly free causal entities see the material universe as realizations of the dream-ideas of Source because of the vastness of their power and karmic freedom. They’re also able to see, hear, smell, taste, and touch by thought alone. Ergo, all causal desires are fulfilled by thought or perception only, meaning causal entities can materialize or dematerialize anything from thought to reality. Causal entities are said to find expression when they’re thinking or diving deep into introspection or meditation.
Autobiography of a Yogi (43:354) further explains that a causal bodied entity can remain in the blissful world of ideas after they dissolve their subtle astral and gross physical plane karma. Many causal entities are said to remain on causal planes for thousands of years.
Composition
The causal body is said to be comprised of the anandamaya kosha. It’s also said to be surrounded by the celestial and ketheric/causal energy field layers, which are the highest and most subtle energy field layers. This body is the most subtle covering of the soul, providing a link between Source and our other bodies. Perhaps it’s what the Law of One (30:2) refers to as a spirit complex. A spirit complex is a gateway that channels various cosmic energy into the roots of consciousness and funnels consciousness to intelligent infinity.
According to Autobiography of a Yogi (43:360), the causal body is said to consist of 35 thought categories, including all of our 19 subtle astral and 16 gross physical counterparts. Causal bodies are thought to be composed, not of physical or subtle light, but of divine ideas or thought-seeds and sustained exclusively by divine light (pure consciousness).