Understanding the Subtle Body

Paper Summary:

This paper defines the subtle body as a non-physical energy, unseen, yet connected to an individual's psyche, as well as to one's mental and spiritual consciousness. This paper explores the history of the subtle body, which is greatly influenced by Mahayana Buddhism, which was introduced into China from India in the 1st century AD. This paper examines one's inner body or consciousness, which is comprised of formed of several layers and levels. The subtle body is generally represented as a series of concentric circles, ranging from the least subtle, generally the physical body, to the most subtle.

From the Paper:

"Chinese traditions of self and the subtle body are greatly influenced by Mahayana Buddhism, which spread into China from India in the 1st century AD. One of the most important particularities of Mahayana tradition refers to the elevation of Buddha to "the position of a Divine figure and source of Grace" . Now, Buddha, or rather the Enlightened Figure of Buddha, possesses three levels of being, without counting the physical body (in my opinion, despite its omission in the texts, the physical body of the Enlightened Figure of Buddha should be regarded, similar to the Indic tradition, as the initial, most unsubtle body. If we look at historical tradition, Buddha is supposed to have lived on one piece of rice a day with the sole purpose of "removing" his physical body). These three subtle bodies are truth/reality body, complete enjoyment body and the transformation body .Chinese Buddhist tradition gives birth from the reality body to the primordial deities referred to as the five Tathagata Buddhas."

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