subtle body

English

Etymology

Translation of सूक्ष्म शरीर (sūkṣma-śarīra) or सूक्ष्म देह (sūkṣma-deha).

Noun

subtle body (plural subtle bodies)

1. (Hinduism, philosophy) The second of three (or more) bodies that make up the fully embodied human in various Hindu philosophies.
2. (occult, parapsychology) The embodiment of the soul or mind; part of the bodymind of the human being in syncretic, esoteric philosophy.
3. (occult, theosophy) Those parts of the septenary, the 'seven principles of man' which constitute each human being, contrasted with the gross body, the physical human body.

See also

• astral body
• subtle