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“God encased the human soul succesively in three bodies - [1.] The idea, or causal body. A causal-bodied being remains in the blissful realm of ideas. [2.] The subtle astral body, seat of man's mental and emotional natures. An astral being works with his consciousness and feelings and a body made of lifetrons / prana. [3.] the gross physical body. [This utilises the] physical senses. [...] In wakeful state on earth a human being is conscious more or less of his three vehicles. When he is sensuously intent on tasting, smelling, touching, listening or seeing, he is working principally through his physical body. Visualizing or willing, he is working mainly through his astral body. His causal being finds expression when man is thinking or diving deep in introspection or meditation; the cosmical thoughts of genius come to the man who habitually contacts his causal body. [...] If he dreams, [man] remains in his astral body, effortlessly creating any object even as do the astral beings. [Such astral-level sleep is] not fully refreshing. If man's sleep be deep and dreamless, for several hours, he is able to transfer his consciousness to the causal body; such deep sleep is revivifying. pg416-431, Chapter 43, The resurrection of Sri Yukteswar” — Paramahansa Yogananda