5.5. Types of Metaphysical Bodies

In Jain philosophy a human body possesses five types of bodies namely:

1. audarika sharira (the physical body),
2. vaikriyaka sharira (the fluid body),
3. aharaka sharira,
4. taijasa sharira (the astral body) and
5. karmana sharira (the karma body).

Out of these (b) belongs to the dwellers of heaven and hell and also to the highly practiced saints of the 4^th time era and (c) belongs to the highly realised saints but only in 4^th era. Though each one of us has the rest of the three i.e. a, d and e. Physical body is which we can see and touch and the astral body is that of electric one and the karma body is the atoms of karma, or karmanu, that surround the physical body at all times. They keep changing though according to one’s thought process and happenings in life.

An example of astral body is,

‘a lady called Lilian is adroit in supernatural experimentation. Somebody asked her, 'How would you come to know about supernatural occasions?' She stated, 'I know them through astral projection. Each living being is possessed of a fundamental current, which is otherwise called the astral body. Through astral projection I leave the body to visit a specific spot and after having observed what is happening there, I return and enlighten others regarding it.’^[1]

‘The method of astral projection is similar to the procedure of samudghata (Bursting forth; expansion of the soul to the limits of the lokakasa)^[2] in the Jain tradition. It implies that at the season of event of a specific happening the vital energy, leaves the gross body and achieves the area of event and becomes familiar with it. This vital essence can go far; it has limitless abilities.’^[3]

No doubt life is much beyond what we can see and understand but statements like above have the strength to fill anyone with the feeling of amazement and leave one with the curiosity to know more.

Dr. Brian Weiss’ study got challenged when one of his patient recalled the messages she got from the space between two lives. He writes,

‘One's comprehension of the world, tested by another thought or idea that may end up being a significant one. Actually presumably we all have faced in any event one such idea in our lifetime, in spite of the fact that it may be an alternate one for every one of us.’^[4]

Footnotes and references:

[1]:

Acharya Mahaprajna. Abstract Thinking (AT). Jaina Vishva Bharati, Ladnun, 2010. pp. 207

[2]:

http://en.encyclopediaofjainism.com/index.php?title=Samudghata (retrieved on 28/05/2017 @ 3 pm)

[3]:

AT. pp. 207

[4]:

Dr. Weiss Brian. Through Time into Healing (TTIH). Piatkus Books, Britain. 2009. pp. 145