Human Constitution

The Theosophical literature offers different approaches to the constitution of human beings. One of them is in terms of the Principles, the other is through the bodies in which these principles organize themselves, and a last one is the idea of sheaths.

Principles

H. P. Blavatsky described the constitution of human beings mainly from the point of view of the Principles and states of consciousness. The most common classification is as follows:

1- Physical: Physical body.

2- Astral: Subtle counterpart of the physical body.

3- Pranic: Vitality.

4- Kamic: Animal passions and desires.

5- Manasic: Human intelligence, Ego.

6- Buddhic: Spiritual Soul.

7- Atmic: Higher Self.

Bodies

This classification is based on the form-aspect of the human being. Mme. Blavatsky did not approach this topic very much, but it was developed later by Annie Besant and C. W. Leadbeater in the Adyar tradition. The bodies were described as:

1- Dense Body: The gross part of the physical body, made of the matter we perceive through our senses.

2- Etheric Double: The subtle part of the physical body.

3- Emotional Body, or Astral Body: Through which emotions are felt, both those coming from the kamic or animal nature, and those coming from the spiritual nature.

4- Mental Body: The vehicle for the lower mind.

5- Causal Body: The vehicle for the Higher ego.

Sheaths

Following the Vedantic tradition some Theosophical literature adopted the concepts of five sheaths on the Self or Ātman. They are:

1- Annamayakosha: The "sheath of food", the physical body.

2- Pranamayakosha: The sheath of Prāṇa.

3- Manomayakosha: The sheath for lower Manas and Kāma.

4- Vignanamayakosha: the sheath for higher Manas.

5- Anandamayakosha: the "sheath of bliss", for Buddhi.

Online Resources

Articles and pamphlets

• A Word on Man, His Nature and His Powers by Annie Besant
• The Sevenfold Division - Why Not Change the Designation? by William Q. Judge
• The Sheaths of the Soul by William Q. Judge

Books

• Man and His Bodies by Annie Besant
• Self and It's Sheaths by Annie Besant
• The Seven Principles of Man by Annie Besant