subtlebody

The term subtle body refers to a non-physical aspect of a person believed to accompany the physical body. In Hindu philosophy, yoga, Theosophy, and various New Age traditions, the subtle body is considered a repository of life energy and consciousness that can influence health, perception, and spiritual development. It is not recognized as an empirical entity by modern science, and descriptions of it vary across cultures and schools.

In Indian thought, the subtle body is often called sukshma sharira or linga sharira and is linked to prana, the life force that moves through the body. Energy channels, or nadis, and energy centers, or chakras, are described as parts of this subtle anatomy. A common schema within yoga and Vedanta is the five koshas or sheaths: annamaya (physical), pranamaya (vital energy), manomaya (mind), vijnanamaya (intellect), and anandamaya (bliss). The koshas are viewed as layered aspects of the same underlying subtle body.

Key components commonly mentioned include prana (life energy), nadis (streams of energy), and chakras (centers of activity). The subtle body is considered the vehicle for practices such as pranayama, meditation, and energy healing, and in some traditions is linked to experiences like astral travel or lucid inner perception.

In contemporary contexts, the subtle body is used to explain concepts such as energy balance, aura, and inner growth within spiritual or alternative medicine frameworks. Perspectives on its existence and workings differ, and most claims remain within religious, philosophical, or experiential domains rather than established scientific theory.