The Three Bodies According to Yoga

1. The Causal Body. This is the most subtle layer, the mixture of the personal with the absolute. It is called the 'Jivatman', it is the deep motivating force that is positive and creative. It is the source of our dharma (or true calling). The Causal body creates charisma and the magnetism of the soul to the higher life. It is the true cause of pleasure, called ananda.

2. The Subtle Body. This is the electrical body which can take its power from the Causal Body, but can also be influenced by the lower being. It has magnetism and projection and is the source of our sense functioning. It is under the influence of the gunas; tamasic influence creates low and dull energy, rajasic influence creates excitement in the senses, sattvic functions allow us to sense the truth and purity all around us. The Subtle body is greatly influenced by the functioning of mind and actions of body.

3. The Physical Body. The lowest of the three, this body is crude and dense. It is easy to work with, as it is the most accessible to most people, as they associate most strongly with the crude physical. However, it is the most instinctive, animal part of ourselves and can be the source of bad decisions and wrong movements. Hatha yoga begins with this layer, as its purity is an essential beginning for the work of connecting with the higher. Eventually the yoga must be done from the upper layers once the physical body has attained a certain level of balance and purification.

4. Turya. The undefined, infinite Shiva, unlimited and without attribute. This is the vast silence with exists everywhere and nowhere at once, it is the true source of all the other layers.

The holy sound of OM expresses all of these layers. The first part of the OM is 'A' and represents the physical layer. The second sound is 'U' which expresses the subtle body; the third sound is 'M' which is the causal body. Silence at the end of the OM is Turya, the infinite vastness. Thus, the chanting of the mantra OM expresses the whole of the cosmos, both personal and infinite. The entirety of the universe is brought into the consciousness of the yogi/yogini through the chanting of OM.