Categories: Other Meditation Teachings
May the blessings of the Triple Gem be with you all!
Today, through our spiritual teachings, I wish to explain the concept of the mind-made body based on our own direct experiences. My hope is to clarify this topic in a way that is easy for you to grasp and correctly understand. You saw the term in the title, and many people have had experiences with this mind-made body, or Manokaya, at various levels.
Some are dedicated meditators, while others have encountered it without any formal meditation practice. Experiences with the mind-made body come from both paths.
Understanding the Nature of This Subtle Body
So, what exactly is this mind-made body?
Let’s first identify what it is. You might have heard it referred to by other names. Some in English call it the ‘astral body.’ We might also call it the ‘radiant body’ or ‘body of light’ (Kiranakāya). Ultimately, all these terms point to the same reality: within our physical body, intimately connected with our mind, another body resides.
This second body is a very different kind of entity.
As I mentioned, we call it the radiant body or the mind-made body. It is, in essence, the mind itself is consciousness. But there’s a distinct difference. This subtle body is far more refined than our physical body, which we nourish with food. It is free from illness and disease.
We can bring this inner, subtle body to the forefront only by developing our mind, cultivating our heart, or in other words, through the practical application of spiritual meditation. It is an experience that comes to one who engages in this practice.
How Do We Encounter the Mind-Made Body?
Many have heard that with this mind-made body, it’s possible to travel to different places and see various things. You may have come across this in accounts of near-death experiences. Some people, for instance, describe being outside their bodies during a surgical operation.
The person undergoing the procedure reports floating out of their physical form and watching the doctors perform the surgery. These accounts exist across the world, in Sri Lanka and abroad, regardless of race, religion, or background. This is precisely the mind-made body at work. It is this subtle body, intrinsically linked with the mind, that has emerged.
The ability to project this body isn’t something we can develop through a separate, specific method. It emerges through meditation. This is why I mentioned earlier that people experience it in two main ways. Some encounter it through dedicated meditation practice, while others stumble upon it without any formal training, such as during those critical near-death moments or surgical procedures.
Both groups exist, and their experiences are valid.
The Role of Calm-Abiding Meditation (Samatha)
By now, you should have some understanding of what the mind-made body is. I’ve given you several terms: the astral body, the mind-made body (Manokaya), and the radiant body (Kiranakāya). No matter the name, we are talking about the mind itself, consciousness, manifesting as a subtle, inner body.
For someone who approaches this through the path of meditation, which is our focus in these spiritual teachings and the experience unfolds as they awaken this potential. If you wish to have this experience, you must put in the effort.
However, there isn’t one specific meditation technique just for this purpose. It arises from the development of what we call Samatha meditation, which is the practice of cultivating mental tranquility and calm. As one deepens their Samatha practice, regardless of the specific technique, the experience of projecting the mind-made body can arise, often due to past life affinities (samsaric habits).
I will explain further how this happens, where it can go, and what the initial signs feel like.
You will need to engage in Samatha meditation to access this. For instance, some who practice our ‘Third Eye Practical Meditation Method‘ have reported these experiences. Others who follow our ‘Practical Meditation Method to the Brahma Worlds‘ have also had them. Both are Samatha practices.
In truth, there are countless Samatha methods in the world, both ancient and new. Through any of these, this experience can manifest for certain individuals. That is its nature. Once this ability arises, if we wish, we can develop it further. This requires dedicated practice for someone who experiences it consistently.
The Four Gateways: Initial Sensations of Separation
Let me explain how this process begins, using our own ‘Third Eye Practical Meditation Method‘ as an example. In the initial stages of this practice, we instruct you to focus your attention on the point between the eyebrows and contemplate certain phrases. As a meditator continues with this, they may start to feel a few specific sensations.
What do they feel? Here are some common experiences:
- Floating Above: The person feels that they are floating above their actual physical body. It’s a clear sensation of being elevated. This is a primary sign.
- Moving Forward: Another common feeling is being positioned in front of their physical body. While meditating, they feel as if they have moved forward, leaving the physical form behind. At that moment, the sensation is unmistakable.
- Sinking Below: Imagine you are meditating on your bed. You might suddenly feel as though your body is beneath the bed, or even under the floor. When I used to give Dhamma talks, I personally experienced this. While sitting on a chair to deliver the sermon, I would feel as though I was underneath the chair, almost trapped inside it. Yet, there was no discomfort, and I could continue speaking without any issue. This is a common experience for spiritual practitioners.
- Moving Behind: Some people meditate while leaning against a wall. They might suddenly feel as if they are behind their physical body, as if they are inside the wall itself. This can be frightening for some, but it is just another manifestation.
These are just four primary ways the initial shift can be felt. Based on our personal experiences, these are the ‘gateways‘ from which the mind-made body, the astral body, can begin to depart. It doesn’t just shoot out suddenly, so there is no need to be afraid. This is simply its nature.
Feeling Big and Small: Other Perceptual Shifts
As I describe these things, some of you may realize that you have had these experiences and now understand what was happening. There are other related sensations as well, which many in our spiritual community have encountered.
One such experience is a dramatic change in perceived size. You might suddenly feel that your body has become enormous, like a giant. This is directly related to the mind-made body. Conversely, another experience is feeling that you have become incredibly small, tiny. These are different facets of the same phenomenon. It is important to understand that such things can and do happen during spiritual practice.
These experiences can arise from our ‘Third Eye‘ or ‘Brahma Worlds‘ meditation methods, but they are not limited to them. They can occur during any Samatha practice, such as the six recollections taught by the Buddha (Buddhānussati, Dhammānussati, Sanghānussati), or even loving-kindness meditation (Mettā Bhāvanā).
It doesn’t matter where the technique comes from India, the Himalayas, a sage, a Brahmin, or a monk. When you cultivate tranquility, these sensations can arise for some individuals.
Spontaneous Experiences and Their Purpose
So, why do these things happen?
You might wonder what the purpose of these sensations is, just as people ask me why they see lights, like blue light, during meditation. My answer is always the same: these are helpful signs, supports to help you move to the next step. There’s no deep meaning to analyze in the sign itself; its value is in being a stepping stone.
Similarly, we must understand that these feelings related to the mind-made body are part of the journey.
For some, the sensation lasts from the beginning to the end of a meditation session. For others, it comes and goes. Some experience it very intensely. It can even persist after you’ve finished meditating.
There is no specific time or place for it. Sometimes, you don’t even need to be formally meditating. Once your mind becomes habituated to this state, the experience can arise spontaneously. You could be walking down the street or riding in a bus and suddenly feel as if you are under the vehicle or floating above it.
No harm will come to you. This happens because when the mind becomes accustomed to a certain level of practice, it will naturally and powerfully return there, no matter where you are. We must understand this.
From Sensation to Skill: Developing Mind-Made Powers (Manomaya Iddhi)
We can further develop this ability through dedicated spiritual practice.
What can be done with it?
When this is developed, it can transform into a psychic power we call Manomaya Iddhi, or ‘mind-made powers.’ This is a natural potential for those practicing the Third Eye meditation. For some, the experience of the mind-made body traveling becomes this type of psychic power.
Interestingly, some people with an open Third Eye have never felt the initial separation sensations I described, yet they can see things like the Ruwanwelisaya stupa and have other psychic abilities. I will teach more about these topics in future discussions.
With these mind-made powers, you can accomplish various things. If you develop the sensations, you can learn to create other bodies from the mind, just like your own. Using the Third Eye, you can even take on the appearance of another person, like a friend. You could manifest objects.
If you wished to take on the form of a Nāga (a divine serpent), you could do so through Manomaya Iddhi. It is very important to note that I am speaking only of mind-made powers, not ‘true’ psychic power (sabhāva siddhi), which is an entirely different topic that must be discussed separately.
Different Paths of Spiritual Perception
In our Third Eye meditation, I’ve guided practitioners to cultivate the light sign, contemplate the sky, and then use their intention to visit places like Ruwanwelisaya or Sigiriya. Some report that they feel themselves flying through the sky and arriving at the destination. This is Manomaya Iddhi. This is what we call mind-made power.
There are different variations among practitioners. Some with an awakened Third Eye see things as if on a television or CCTV screen; they can direct their vision with intention, but they do not have the traveling experience of Manomaya Iddhi. Others have both: their Third Eye is open, and they also possess the mind-made power to travel. Based on our experiences, we see people with one ability, the other, or both.
Furthermore, it’s possible to have these experiences without the Third Eye being open at all. The experience is different then. They don’t ‘see’ anything, but they ‘feel’ the sensations I described at the beginning: floating up, sinking down, moving forward, or being inside a wall. They feel the movement of the inner body without visual perception. So, both paths exist.
Many people ask if we have these experiences ourselves, which is why I consistently use the phrase ‘based on our experience.’ We share this knowledge for your awareness and understanding, to help you in your own meditation journey.
Your Path Forward with the Mind-Made Body
These explanations should be sufficient for you to understand what the mind-made body and the Manokaya, or astral body is. You now know what it is, which meditation practices can lead to it, and the various ways it can be felt. The key is to take this understanding and use it to move forward on your path.
In the future, for those who have these experiences regularly, so much so that it has become a daily part of your meditation and I am prepared to teach how to develop this aspect further. I will provide those teachings in upcoming articles.
For today, I will conclude this teaching on the mind-made body. May the power of the Buddha, Dhamma, and Sangha the Triple Gem bless you all to understand these matters, and if you have such experiences, to develop them further. May you be blessed to cultivate your spiritual abilities.
We invite you to walk this path with us. Read our teachings, and most importantly, apply them practically in your own life. as you practice, questions will naturally arise. Please feel free to share your experiences and questions in the comments below, via email or contact form. I will do my best to offer guidance in future talks based on your progress. For now, begin this practice with an open heart and a mind free from expectation. Cultivate it correctly, and may you find the clarity and peace you seek.
Thank you for joining us. We hope this blog will be of great benefit to your spiritual journey.
May you all be well and happy.
May the blessings of the Triple Gem be with you all!
