ELI5: Explain Like I'm 5

Sarira (Vedanta)

Sarira is a big word that simply means “body” in Vedanta, which is an ancient Indian philosophy. Just like how your body is made up of different parts such as your arms, legs, and head, Sarira refers to the different layers or levels that make up our physical form.

There are three main types of sarira:
1. Gross Sarira
2. Subtle Sarira
3. Causal Sarira

Gross Sarira is the physical body that we can see and touch.

Subtle Sarira is the body that we can’t see or touch, but it still exists within us. It’s made up of things like our breath, thoughts, and emotions.

Causal Sarira is even more subtle than Subtle Sarira, and it’s believed to be the cause of everything that exists. It’s the idea that everything in the world is linked together, and our actions and thoughts can create ripples that affect everything else around us.

So, to break it down, sarira is just a big fancy word that refers to the different layers or levels that make up our physical form. These different levels include the physical body, our breath and emotions, and the cause of everything that exists.