“These four bodies are defined in different teachings in various ways.” G. drew a diagram and said: “The first is the physical body, in Christian terminology the ‘carnal’ body; the second, in Christian terminology, is the ‘natural’ body; the third is the ‘SPIRITUAL’ body; and the fourth, in the terminology of esoteric Christianity, is the ‘divine’ body. In theosophical terminology the first is the ‘physical’ body, the second is the ‘astral,’ the third is the ‘mental,’ and the fourth the ‘causal.’1 Fragments: Two

“The ‘astral body’ is not an indispensable implement for man. It is a great luxury which only a few can afford. A man can live quite well without an ‘astral body.’ His physical body possesses all the functions necessary for life. A man without ‘astral body’ may even produce the impression of being a very intellectual or even SPIRITUAL man, and may deceive not only others but also himself. Fragments: Two

” ‘Hydrogens’ 48, 24, 12, and 6 are matters unknown to physics and chemistry, matters of our psychic and SPIRITUAL life on different levels. Fragments: Nine

“But theories exist,” said one of us, “that a man ought to develop the SPIRITUAL and moral side of his nature and that if he attains results in this direction there will be no obstacles on the part of the body. Is this possible or not?” Fragments: Seventeen

“Both yes and no,” said G. “The whole point is in the ‘if.’ If a man attains perfection of a moral and SPIRITUAL nature without hindrance on the part of the body, the body will not interfere with further achievements. But unfortunately this never occurs because the body interferes at the first step, interferes by its automatism, its attachment to habits, and chiefly by its wrong functioning. If the development of the moral and SPIRITUAL nature without interference on the part of the body is theoretically possible, it is possible only in the case of an ideal functioning of the body. And who is able to say that his body functions ideally? Fragments: Seventeen

“And besides there is deception in the very words ‘moral’ and ‘SPIRITUAL’ themselves. I have often enough explained before that in speaking of machines one cannot begin with their ‘morality’ or their ‘SPIRITUALity,’ but that one must begin with their mechanicalness and the laws governing this mechanicalness. The being of man number one, number two, and number three is the being of machines which are able to cease being machines but which have not ceased being machines.” Fragments: Seventeen

“I will now point out to you only one aspect of the functioning of the body which it is indispensable to regulate in any event. So long as this functioning goes on in a wrong way no other kind of work, either moral or SPIRITUAL, can go on in a right way. Fragments: Seventeen