314 The Law of the Rhythmic Breath 



This is referred to as the " Astral Body " by Mr. 

 Leadbeater (Man Visible and Invisible), and as 

 it is composed of astral matter it is an astral body. 

 But the intangible self that travels far from the 

 body during life is the Mdydvi-rupa, or " illusion 

 form." 



According to Mme. Blavatsky, " The Mdydvl 

 Rupa is composed of the astral body as Upddhi 

 [base], the guiding intelligence of the heart, and 

 the attributes and qualities from the Auric En- 

 velope " (Secret Doctrine, Vol. Ill, p. 560). It 

 is created by the intense thought of the person, 

 and on occasions has been done unconsciously. 

 Only Adepts have the power to project this form 

 at will, and they can endow it with strength and 

 impart to it every appearance of tangibility. 



Unfortunately, the term astral body has been 

 used very loosely. But instead of any disagree- 

 ment or controversy as to which, the Etheric 

 double or the Kdmic sheath should be thus named, 

 it were better far to understand that there are 

 different astral bodies, that the term is not spe- 

 cific. Mrs. Besant says : " Any body formed of 

 astral matter is an astral body, but its properties 

 will vary with the principles with which it is in- 

 formed." The astral body is said to be molecu- 

 lar, however etherealized it may be. 



The astral world is the next one in refinement 

 of matter to the physical world which normal sight 



