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Human Energy Systems,
Chakras & Enlightenment



Subtle Energy - Life Force Energy



Across other cultures, subtle energy goes by many different names:

- Prana (Sanskrit)
- Qi (Chinese)
- Mana (Polynesian)
- Ki (Japanese)

Though subtle energy has different names across all of these cultures, it remains the same. Subtle energy is life force energy. It is the divine energy that transcends physical time and space connecting all life.

Subtle energy is used in alternative medicine and healing practices. The flow and movement of subtle energy throughout the body can have major effects on your health and well-being. Healing practitioners often say that stagnant or imbalanced subtle energy can result in various illnesses.The seven subtle bodies listed above are all made of subtle energy, and together they comprise the auric system, which is a type of energy system.



Subtle Spinning Energy Bodies - Chakras



There are seven total subtle bodies in your auric energy field. The subtle bodies begin at the physical body and extend outwards as seven different layers surrounding you. They correlate to the seven chakras.

Chakras are seven spinning centers of energy that are located at seven different points on your spine. Each subtle body actually has its own set of seven chakras, so this way energy can more easily be transmuted across the bodies and chakras.

This is the way that people who practice reiki, or energy healing, are able to heal one higher frequency body, and have it affect the physical body.



Seven Subtle Bodies of Vibration



As most of us are aware, our physical body is not our only body. Humans are multidimensional beings with seven subtle bodies. These subtle bodies vibrate at different frequencies and interact energetically with both the physical and non-physical worlds.

They are the different energetic layers that comprise your aura or auric energy system. Knowing and understanding each of the seven subtle bodies can help you as you navigate your spiritual journey.

The Seven Subtle Bodies Are:
- Etheric Body
- Emotional Body
- Mental Body
- Astral Body
- Etheric Template Body
- Celestial Body
- Causal Body



Placing The Chakras



The chakra system lies at the center of the body running from the top of the head to the bottom of the spine. Each chakra is a ‘wheel’ of energy that correlates to various mental and physical qualities. The seven subtle bodies also correspond to the seven chakras, which are as follows:

- Muladhara (root chakra)
- Swadhisthana (sacral chakra)
- Manipura (solar plexus chakra)
- Anahata (heart chakra)
- Vishuddha (throat chakra)
- Ajna (third eye chakra)
- Sahasrara (crown chakra)

Through meditation and yoga, you can work to open your chakras to increase the flow of subtle energy through your physical body, improving anything from your health to your mood.



Subtle Anatomy - five energy systems



In yogic subtle anatomy, there are five different energy systems:

- Chakras (7 wheels of energy)
- Bandas (3 energy seals)
- Koshas (7 subtle bodies)
- Gunas (3 primal forces)
- Prana Vayus (life energy)

The interaction of these energy systems are subtle anatomy.



Subtle Energy Systems all Interconnect



There are multiple other energy systems in your body that are also comprised of subtle energy such as:

- Chakras
- Meridians
- Basic Grid
- Five Rhythms

Subtle energy systems all interconnect and interact with each other to impact the physical reality.



Subtle (Astral) Body Anatomy:
The 72,000 Nadis of the Subtle Body



The subtle body is a field of energy whose form is more fluid than the physical body. Energy (prana) flows through subtle channels called nadis. These channels permeate the entire subtle body. The mind can be understood to be the sum total of all of the nadis, as the mind can not function without the nadis and the nadis can not exist without the mind. The mind is the field and the nadis are the channels through which pranic energy flows.

Classical yogic texts state that there are 72,000 nadis. The nadis energize the subtle body in a manner similar to the way the nervous system energizes the physical body. In fact, the nadis are the astral template of the nerves themselves. The mind is the astral template of the brain. Whereas the brain is the initiator of energy carried by the nerves, our mind (manas) and higher faculties such as the buddhi (intellect) are the initiators of the energy carried by the nadis in the subtle body.



Chakra Energy System - the Nadis



The nadis are the subtle channels that carry prana through the field of the mind. When the nadis are functioning properly, the mind is clear and vibrant. A person is psychologically healthy…The mind is the initiator of pranic movement. However, altered flow through the nadis will also affect the mind. Hence, diseases of the mind, emotions and intellect may originate either in the mind or the nadis.”

Excerpt from “Principles of Ayurvedic Medicine,” by Dr. Marc Halpern, Founder of the California College of Ayurveda.



Buddha Teaching on Enlightenment and the human condition



The Buddha teaches the Diamond Perfection of Wisdom Sutra



A monk asked Buddha, "I have a question to ask you. If people want to develop the highest, most fulfilled and awakened mind, what should they do to help quiet their minds and manage their cravings?"


The Buddha replied:

"Listen carefully and pay attention, and I will answer your question.


If people want to develop the highest, most fulfilled and awakened mind, if they want to quiet their minds while managing their cravings, then there is something they can do. This will help them in managing their discriminative thoughts and craving desires. It is possible to attain perfect tranquility and clarity of mind.


All living beings, whether they are human beings or other animals, will eventually come to Enlightenment. And when this infinite number of beings have all been liberated, in truth no one has been liberated.

Why? Because if a disciple still clings to notions of duality such as ego, self, or separation, that disciple won't be aware of their own Enlightenment."


The Buddha is telling us that everyone has the seed of Buddha nature within themselves. We have Enlightenment already and it's only our clouded delusions that prevent us from realizing this. The Buddha is extending this idea, not just to all humans, but to all living beings.


Enlightenment really consists of recognizing the Buddha nature that is already within us.


Our Buddha nature is our true self. It's the self that is one with everything and realizes that fact. It's the self that is fully enlightened and perfect. In reality, it's who we are right now, even if we don't realize it. It's not some goal to be achieved - each and every one of us is fully enlightened already.


We just have to awaken to the fact. We just have to conquer the delusions that prevent us from realizing the fundamental truth of our being.




Buddha teaches the Diamond Perfection of Wisdom Sutra




When we have enlightening experiences that help us start to recognize our true nature, they help us stay motivated to remain on the path. As long as we don't forget and become deluded again, the motivation will remain present.


Buddha nature simply means that we are all enlightened already. It is just because we are suffering from delusion that we don't realize it. We don't think of enlightenment as something to be achieved like a prize. If we contemplate this deeply, it is very significant.


I am enlightened and so are you. Stop and think about that for a minute.


If I am enlightened already, then I can celebrate my success right now. I certainly don't need to feel bad about not getting enlightened sooner. If I am enlightened already, then the Buddhist path doesn't seem nearly as daunting. If all I am doing is clearing away delusion, that seems a lot more achievable than getting some high spiritual goal.




Buddha teaches the Diamond Perfection of Wisdom Sutra




"Also, in the practice of kindness and generosity, a disciple should not be attached. Give for the sake of giving, not for the sake of appearances or for any merit you might receive in return. Be compassionate because being compassionate is good, not for some external reward. Why? Because practicing kindness and generosity without attachment is the way to reaching the Highest Perfect Wisdom, it is the way to becoming a Buddha."

"All that has a form is illusive and unreal. When you see that all forms are illusive and unreal, then you will begin to perceive your true Buddha nature. The truth is that the Buddha you should follow is your own Buddha nature, neither me nor anyone else."


One of the fundamental teachings of Buddhism is that our sense of individuality is delusional.


The Buddha taught that we aren't really individual beings in the way we tend to think. We are really just part of everything else, like how waves are part of the ocean. A wave can be described as an individual, but it really isn't separate from the rest of the ocean.


The Buddha taught that what we think of as our self is actually not an individual being, but a combination of things. He called these the five aggregates. they are:

physical form, consciousness, feelings, perceptions and mental habits.


If we are just a collection of things, like parts of a cart, then our self is less significant than we think it is. What are the implications of this?


Well, our feelings of greed and jealousy become insignificant if we aren't so focused on ourselves. THe world becomes a better place with less selfishness. Recognizing ourselves as part of a context rather than thinking we are some separate independent being can go a long way toward fixing many problems in the world.


Selfishness is a big problem. Because of selfishness we are greedy. Because of selfishness we are jealous of others and we tend to get upset if we don't have everything we think we deserve. Because of selfishness we take others for granted, which can greatly damage our relationships. Selfishness is at the root of most of our human problems. a lot of our anger is motivated by selfishness as well.


If we recognize others as ourselves then we are certainly less likely to harm them.


It can make us want to help them instead - and ultimately, helping others is really important in Buddhism. When we recognize that we are everything, it can be easy to forgive everything - or at least accept everything.




BUDDHA and the
DIAMOND PERFECTION of WISDOM Sutra

One of the fundamental teachings of the Buddha is that our sense of individuality is delusional.

The Buddha taught that we aren't really individual beings in the way we tend to think.
We are really just part of everything else, like waves are part of the ocean.

Buddha teaches us, we are already enlightened.
Delusion hides this from us.

Remove the delusion and return to your true enlightened nature.



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