Sirshree:There are four sheaths of the body and there is the Self. There is a lot of confusion in spirituality on whether it is five layers of the body, two bodies, spirit and body, etc. Understand that there is “consciousness” and four sheaths around it…four sheaths that can also be called two bodies. Understand this through

Every human being has four sheaths. These, however, seem to be a single entity. Let us suppose that a person is wearing first a vest, then a shirt, followed by a sweater, and finally a coat. These can be likened to the four sheaths. However, to an observer, the vest, shirt, sweater and coat do not appear to be distinct. In fact, from the outside, it is just the coat that can be seen. The person who has worn the four garments is separate from these garments. However, the clothes cover him, therefore, he cannot be seen. This person depicts the true ‘Self’ which gets shrouded by the four sheaths.

In this example, the person wears one layer over the other. However, in case of the human body, the four sheaths are intertwined. The four sheaths from periphery to centre – for the sake of understanding – are:

• The physical sheath – it is the fourth or the outermost sheath, which can be compared to the coat;
  
• The pranic sheath – it is the third sheath, which can be compared to the sweater;
  
• The mental sheath – it is the second sheath, which can be compared to the shirt; and
  
• The causal sheath – it is the first or the innermost sheath, which can be compared to the vest.

The physical sheath and the pranic sheath have been referred to as the gross body. The mental sheath and the causal sheath have been referred to as the subtle body.

When a person dies, only the two outer layers, i.e. the gross body are shed off. Referring to the above example, the coat and the sweater are removed. The shirt, the vest and the person wearing them are still alive; they are not dead. The coat is akin to our physical sheath, which can be seen from the outside. It experiences aches, pains, and other difficulties. We do our best to do away with these. However, we do not experience these pains in deep sleep. There is no physical pain even after what we call ‘death’. This implies that whatever happens during deep sleep is something similar to death.

What we know as ‘death’ is the death of just the two external sheaths. The two inner sheaths and the real Self which is immortal are still alive. Let us take up yet another analogy to understand this very important aspect. Imagine that you are seated on a scooter, the handle of which is similar to the steering wheel of a car. You are sitting on this scooter to which the body of a car has been attached. You are riding a scooter, but from the outside it appears as though you are driving a car. Here ‘you’ is symbolic of the true Self. The scooter represents the two inner sheaths or the subtle body. The body of the car symbolises the two external sheaths or the gross body.

When a person dies, it is as if the car body has been removed. You are driving only a scooter now, therefore, you feel much more comfortable. You are no longer bothered about parking space. You can scoot through traffic much faster. The problem with the car was that it required a lot of space and it was difficult to manoeuvre. It has now become much easier. You were driving a scooter before the car body was attached, even though it seemed as if you were driving the car. You are driving the scooter even after the car body is removed. Then where is the question of death? What difference has it made? This is the incredible phenomenon you have to understand. This is the enigma you have to fathom. This knowledge will teach you the art of death.