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ANALYSIS OF THE GROSS AND THE SUBTLE
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in the mind of man. Too much reduction will upset the balance and the mind will crash. The production of atomic weapons is the result of a breakdown in man's mental balance.
Similarly, we should accumulate energy in proportion to the reduction of the delusion which surrounds us. Delusion decreases in proportion to the development of knowledge and perception and the balance of the mind. The development of a passionless state of mind also takes place in proportion to the balance of mind.
The systems of knowledge, perception, antarāya and delusion are self-sufficient systems and are essential to the composition of the subtle body. The subtle body is divided into four areas; nāma (body-making karma ), gotra ( statusdetermining karma ), āyuşya ( lengevity-determining karma ) and vēdanīya ( feeling-determining karma). Nāma is the biggest area or compartment. It builds the gross body. The subtle body cannot manifest itself except through the gross body, and, therefore, it must build the latter. The number of the sub-departments of nāma karma is very large. One of these is the body-building department. It is a department of creative artists. It builds the cells. It demolishes the defunct cells and replaces them with new ones. It also demolishes the worn-out parts of the body and replaces them with new ones. It is always watchful and active. It determines the structure and functions of the various parts of the body.
The complexion of some bodies is fair whereas that of the others is dark. What determines this complexion ? It is determined by the guņa sūtras ( chromosomes ). There is a subdepartment of nāma karma called varņa nāma karma (determinant of complexion ). It determines the form and complexion of the body.
The discovery of genes brought about a revolution in the field of biological studies. Traces of all the past actions on the subtle body flow into the genes and manifest through them in the gross body.
Imagine an unknown man sitting in a dark room for an hour or so. By an analysis of the atmosphere of the room we
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