Trauma in the Subtle Body
(Feeling good, feeling bad)

Our feelings are stored in our subtle body:the subtle body is an energy body with channels, winds and energies. These may become blocked and energies displaced and as a result, we don’t feel so good. Because of the way we live, we can pretty well guarantee that we have subtle body problem in one way or another. To unblock these displaced energies, we can use many methods: Loong practice (gentle vase breath), chanting (has similar effect as gentle breathe) certain physical exercises, and of course, resting in emptiness.

This is why the Dharma is all about letting be, relaxing, gentleness, enthusiasm without force…not ‘driven’. The problem with investigating the subtle body is that we can cause more damage if we have a mistaken attitude towards it; this is probably why it is only taught within the Six Doctrines. However, it is important to be aware of how and why suddenly we feel good or not so good.

Memories of trauma come from the subtle body, and when a similar situation reoccurs, up comes the feeling again, and we react.

Sudden trauma will have an effect in a channel.
Gradual trauma affects the wind and energies.

The important point is to recognise what is going on, and the effect it is having. Constant spiritual practice brings about a change is us, the effect being one of inner peace. But sometimes we may still be having trouble with experiencing inner peace, and this is due to inner wind problem – rising loong.

To the ordinary mind, the idea of inner peace is very annoying, as it wants to get up and do something: “I can’t sit around here, I have things to do!” “I have to save the world!” Don’t we sometimes hate peaceful people and their holiness? That is mara (demon) activity in action.

Causing trouble.

Demons (mara) cause trouble for ordinary people and practitioners. These demons are activated by our giving expression to our own emotions, and (sorry to say) they cause trouble particularly for pure practitioners (so I’ve been told).

We can now get a glimpse into the psychology – whether conscious or unconscious – behind the those that have a vested interest in using people for their own gains. Controlling people is about controlling their subtle body memories. They want you to react, in order to get a rise out of you, to get you to be emotional. This reaction traumatises the subtle body, and also our physical bodies and mind.

We need to take steps to counter this: just saying “Relax!” doesn’t work. We have to understand the whole process: energies need to be controlled, and that is done by training the mind…

…kind, relaxing, gentle, loosened, soft, laid back – the result of meditation is non meditation.

When we are in balance, we just feel right.
That’s why we are happy for no reason
and we love for no reason.

We are just happy
and we just love.