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ANALYSIS OF THE GROSS AND THE SUBTLE
subtle body. What happens in the subtle body may be transmitted to the gross body also. The subtle body is the controlling agency of the gross body. It controls breathing. It also controls insight. The function of the sense-organs is also controlled by the subtle body. It also controls the entire energy which we possess. Our potential for aggression and self-defence are controlled by the subtle body. And all this happens mechanically.
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Scientists are familiar with what happens in the gross body, but they are unable to explain why it so happens. Most of our problems will have been solved if we knew that gross body is caused and controlled by the subtle body.
The sarira nāma karma builds innumerable kinds of gross bodies. The gross body composed of bones, flesh and blood is one of them. Then we have the taijasa body (energy) which brings about all the activities of the gross body. The next is karma sarira which we have discussed above. The taijasa body serves as a connecting link between the gross and karma bodies.
When I speak with a microphone before me, the waves of the sound I produce travel far and wide. These waves are transmitted by electricity which serves as a carrier. Whatever activates the gross body comes from the taijasa body. The subtle and karma bodies will not be able to function without electricity. The taijasa body is an active mass of electricity.
We obtain prāṇa through breath. The karma and subtle bodies will not be able to receive vital breath except through the taijasa body. The taijasa body is a transmission link between the karma and gross bodies. In the same way the energy stored in the subtle body cannot be transmitted to the gross body except through the medium of the taijasa body which also transmits the powers of language and the mind to the gross body from the karma body. Language, mind and body have the tendency to be yoked to other entities. This yoking takes place when the taijasa body begins to function and carry things from one place to another. Words and their combinations are the result of the yoking of language to the
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