shaman sun
04-30-2008, 08:54 PM
When meditating, part of the language you can use in order to understand the gradual spiritual development are "bodies."
Gross
Subtle
Causal
We exist as all three.
What are they?
1. Gross body- meaning the bare physical existence. The biological body. Your heart, blood, nervous system, this rock, that tree. Literal existence.
2. Subtle - The underlying energy systems, often discussed and treated in Acupuncture, Ki, Chi, Energy, Reiki, etc. This is interwoven with the gross, physical body. Also known as the soul.
3. Causal - the underlying spirit beneath all things, transcending all objects, both physical and energetic. This is, one could say, the ultimate reality, truth, wei-wei-wei, no-thing and everything.
We exist in all three, and meditation helps us explore and recognize each to a fuller, deeper and greater extent.
When meditating, you often go through each: Follow the breath. You begin to recognize deeper layers of your "Self." Eventually you'll be able to feel your heartbeat in every inch of your body. This is the "gross body" awareness. Then, naturally, the subtle body may be recognized. You will note this sometimes as a tingling sensation in your hands and feet, and a pressure around your third eye. Next, the casual body- this recognition may happen suddenly. The mind is completely silenced, awareness is absolute, beyond form. "Thundering silence," one might say.
All of these "states" are in your awareness, right now. Meditation helps you become aware of each. They are not truly separated, but a flex-flow of interwoven aspects of reality. The more you meditate, the deeper it gets, the more inclusive your awareness becomes of reality.
The "Self," becomes bigger, the ego becomes smaller. The ego, the identity of "I" goes from your person, to the world, to all persons and the universe. Your awareness expands. More on this later... But please pour in the questions, comments and dialogue.
Gross
Subtle
Causal
We exist as all three.
What are they?
1. Gross body- meaning the bare physical existence. The biological body. Your heart, blood, nervous system, this rock, that tree. Literal existence.
2. Subtle - The underlying energy systems, often discussed and treated in Acupuncture, Ki, Chi, Energy, Reiki, etc. This is interwoven with the gross, physical body. Also known as the soul.
3. Causal - the underlying spirit beneath all things, transcending all objects, both physical and energetic. This is, one could say, the ultimate reality, truth, wei-wei-wei, no-thing and everything.
We exist in all three, and meditation helps us explore and recognize each to a fuller, deeper and greater extent.
When meditating, you often go through each: Follow the breath. You begin to recognize deeper layers of your "Self." Eventually you'll be able to feel your heartbeat in every inch of your body. This is the "gross body" awareness. Then, naturally, the subtle body may be recognized. You will note this sometimes as a tingling sensation in your hands and feet, and a pressure around your third eye. Next, the casual body- this recognition may happen suddenly. The mind is completely silenced, awareness is absolute, beyond form. "Thundering silence," one might say.
All of these "states" are in your awareness, right now. Meditation helps you become aware of each. They are not truly separated, but a flex-flow of interwoven aspects of reality. The more you meditate, the deeper it gets, the more inclusive your awareness becomes of reality.
The "Self," becomes bigger, the ego becomes smaller. The ego, the identity of "I" goes from your person, to the world, to all persons and the universe. Your awareness expands. More on this later... But please pour in the questions, comments and dialogue.