Theosophy
H. P. Blavatsky's Theosophical teaching represented the convergence of 19th century Western occultism, Eastern philosophy, religion, science, and mysticism. ''The Secret Doctrine'', and ''The Key to Theosophy'' combined the Vedantic concept of five koshas with Western esoteric traditions, (particularly Neoplatonism). She refers to a number of subtle bodies or vehicles of consciousness:* ''Linga Sharira'' - the Double or Astral body
* ''Kama rupa'' - the "Desire Form"
* ''Manas'' - the Mind, Lower and Higher
* ''Buddhi'' - the Consciousness, Spiritual Soul (the vehicle of the Spirit)
The Linga Sarira or ''Linga Sharira'', which is part of the lower quaternary is the ''eidolon'' of the Greeks, separated from the physical plane by a ''Laya center''. It is the invisible double of the human body elsewhere referred to as the etheric body, etheric double, doppelgänger or bioplasmic body and serves as a model or matrix of the physical body, which conforms to the shape, appearance and condition of this "double".
The linga sarira can be separated or projected a limited distance from the body. When separated from the body it can be wounded by sharp objects. When it returns to the physical frame, the wound will be reflected in the physical counterpart, a phenomenon called "repercussion." At death, it is discarded together with the physical body and eventually disintegrates or decomposes. The mayavi-rupa, in contrast is an illusory body. Apparitions of the dead are often projections of the mayavi-rupa.
Theosophy was further systematised in the writings of C.W. Leadbeater and Annie Besant, who established the Adyar School of Theosophy or neo-Theosophy. They described seven bodies, but they divided Blavatsky's higher and lower astral and Manas into two bodies each:
* Etheric body
* Astral or emotional body
* Mental body (concrete mind)
* Causal body (abstract mind)
Each "body" has its own
aura and set of chakras, and corresponds to a particular plane of existence. C.W. Leadbeater considered the astral body equivalent to the kama principle of Blavatsky's septenary series. Annie Besant wrote that the Linga Sarira corresponds to the ''Etheric Double'', contrary to earlier theosophical teachings. The Linga Sarira is considered the vehicle of prana.
Adapted from the Wikipedia article Subtle body, under the G. N. U. Free Documentation License. Please also see http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki
