Can Subtle Body Be Awakened?
Our physical bodies are visible but the subtle bodies are invisible. Even then, subtle body plays a big role in driving the physical body. Despite being invisible, the subtle body is much more powerful than the physical body. It is not possible to realize the true potential of subtle body without intense spiritual practices. But if it can be awakened by spiritual practices, then it does not need any gross or material-based medium to perform its functions.
What is Our Subtle Body?
Our subtle body is a conglomerate of five senses that can sense the five subtle elements (tanmatras), five response organs, mind, intellect, chitta and ego. The collection of five senses, mind, intellect, chitta and ego help sense the external world and acquire knowledge — so are called the 'powers of sensing' or 'powers of knowledge.' The five response organs are called the 'powers of action.' So a collection of the powers of knowledge and powers of action is called the subtle body. Chitta is a storehouse of past memories and intrinsic tendencies. Within this storehouse all the intrinsic tendencies that the subtle body acquires keep getting accumulated. These tendencies then become the cause for birth, death and attachments towards worldly pleasures.
Research Findings on Subtle Body Projections
According to the findings of Professor George Ashby, based on a number of research experiments, any human being can present himself simultaneously at multiple places by vitalizing, developing and strengthening his inner consciousness. Despite being present at multiple places at the same time, the person's consciousness does not get divided; it remains united.
Madam Alexandra Neel has performed adventurous treks in several highly inaccessible regions of Tibet. In her book titled 'My Journey to Lhasa', she has referred to a saint named Siatsan Rampa who lived at Tawang Math. Siatsan could appear at multiple places simultaneously even when he was actually meditating in his own room in the Math. Madam Neel herself experienced his touch and received his blessings at several different places. Each of the divisions could create his physical body by the force of his resolve and this physical body would then appear wherever he wished. But even then his consciousness remained integrated as one, there would be no division of it.
All members of Gayatri Pariwar must be aware of Sookshmikaran Sadhana (spiritual practice of subtilizing the physical body) performed by Gurudev Pt. Shriram Sharma Acharya. Before he shed his physical body, Gurudev created five Virbhadras (his incarnate bodies) with this sadhana for parallel carrying out a number of activities aimed at creating a new era as directed by Mahakal, the Time Spirit. Many members of Gayatri Pariwar have personally experienced that these five bodies of Gurudev could appear at five different places simultaneously and properly conduct the activities at each place.
A book titled 'Projection of Astral Body' written by Sylvan Muldoon from USA and Hereward Carrington from England was published in 1921 from London. Both authors have claimed that they have performed a lot of external travel with their subtle bodies. They say that since the age of 12 they have been travelling with their subtle bodies. In their experience, the subtle body remains grounded initially and then rises to about 2 meters and then becomes free to roam about.
According to Carrington, the subtle body hovers above the gross body while sleeping. In the state of loss of consciousness, it moves out of the gross body. This is called as involuntary projection. If the subtle body is separated by intention from the gross body, then this is called as voluntary projection. Actually, the two bodies are connected to each other with a subtle wire through which the life force or Prana flows.
Developing the Subtle Body
This ability to detach the subtle body from the gross body is an art, or a skill attained through spiritual disciplines. We must put in efforts to develop and strengthen our subtle bodies. When our subtle bodies evolve, our soul consciousness elevates itself too. By evolving the subtle body we can perform several activities that are very beneficial to human life.
To experience and elevate the subtle body we must perform simple spiritual practices like meditation, yog nidra, chanting of mantras, penance, pranayam, etc. Gurudev Pt. Shriram Sharma Acharya has laid a special emphasis on meditation of rising Sun (Savita) for awakening subtle and causal bodies. He has prescribed that worship (upasana), self-discipline (sadhana) and selfless service (aradhana) must be integrated into daily life routines. With a sustained, devoted practice of these spiritual disciplines, it is possible to raise, evolve and elevate our subtle, causal bodies and our consciousness.
"Science and religion are very much alike. Both are imaginative and creative aspects of the human mind. The appearance of a conflict is a result of ignorance." — Nobel laureate Sir John Eccles
"I find it quite improbable that such order came out of chaos. There has to be some organizing principle. God to me is a mystery but is the explanation for the miracle of existence, why there is something instead of nothing." — Astronomer Allan Sandage
"An equation for me has no meaning unless it expresses a thought of God." — Srinivasa Ramanujan, one of the greatest mathematicians of all time