| Components of Subtle Body – Invisible | Components of Gross Body – Visible |
|
Soul These components cannot be seen, but they can be perceived. |
Earth, Water, Air, fire (heat), ether (space) |
The subtle body carries the soul, and the subtle body is within the gross body.
Are Ghosts Real?
Yes. People who are very sinful or too much attached to their life become ghosts for some time, depending on their sinful actions or attachments. Ghosts have subtle body, no gross body. We cannot see ghosts since they have an invisible subtle body, but they can create disturbances like move objects or make noises.
By cremating the dead gross body, the soul within the subtle body is forced to move onto the next gross body. By burying the dead gross body, the soul can linger around for some time in the form of ghost, due to attachment to the gross body.
What is Death?
Death means the subtle body which contains the soul has left the gross body, because the gross body is finished. At death, the subtle body is transferred to another developing gross body (fetus and then baby body).
What is Liberation?
Liberation means the soul has left the subtle body and gone back to the spiritual kingdom or kingdom of God. In the spiritual kingdom, every soul has a spiritual body.
“Earth, water, fire, air, ether, mind, intelligence and false ego – all together these eight constitute My separated material energies.” (Bhagavad-Gita 7.4)