Christopher explains why each of the 5 layers of you, the koshas, shifts at its own pace. A messy house takes hours to clean, the breath layer can shift in a few minutes with alternate nostril breathing, and the thoughts on the movie screen of the mind move very fast. Each layer has its own practices.
'Can you instantaneously think your way to a clean space when the space is messy?'
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More from the course
The Eight R's of Meditation as Taught by Lorin Roche, Part 1
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The Golden Thought: Celebrate the Moment You Notice You Drifted
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The Photographer and the Loon: Why We Keep Showing Up to Meditate
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Questions people ask
What are the 5 koshas?
The 5 koshas are 5 layers of you, from the most physical to the most subtle: the physical body, the energy body, the mental body, the awareness body and the bliss body. The 5 koshas card in the Effortless Meditation Course notes that each layer has its own energy and its own pace, so real change means meeting the right layer.
Why does the body change more slowly than the mind?
Christopher compares it to cleaning a house that has not been cleaned in a month. You cannot think your way to a clean space, and it takes hours. Physical change tends to take time too. Alternate nostril breathing works at a subtler layer and can shift things in a few minutes, and the thoughts on the movie screen of the mind are rapid fire.
Where can I learn more about the koshas?
This clip comes from the bonus on the 5 koshas in the Effortless Meditation Course, which also includes a printable 5 koshas card. Christopher notes that the 3 centers of traditional Chinese medicine offer a similar idea, with different practices for each type of energy.