Physical body

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The physical body (Shtula-Sharira in Indian Theosophical terminology) is the lowest member of the human being. In the true sense of the word, anthroposophy uses it to refer to the supersensible form, the so-called phantom of the human being. This form is closely related to, but not identical with, the mineral, material body, which can be sensually perceived, but which today is generally equated with the physical body. Anthroposophical spiritual science demands a finer distinction here.

Only as a result of the Luciferic temptation did the form fill itself with earthly materiality and thereby become the corruptible, sensually visible physical body (see below). In the Jewish Kabbalah, the physical body is called Guph (Hebrew: גּוּף) and is connected with the lowest Sephira Malchuth ("realm"), which corresponds to our earthly world. Paracelsus calls it the elementary body, since it is built up of the four elements (fire, air, water and earth). Rudolf Steiner, on the other hand, occasionally used this term for the etheric body (Lit.:GA 138, p. 32ff).

The physical body was already predisposed on the Old Saturn, but at first only as a pure heat body. Only during the development of the Earth did it partly condense into a solid crystalline state. Of all the members of the human being, it has undergone the longest development, which has been advanced to a high degree of perfection by a multitude of spiritual beings. With good reason, therefore, it is also called the actual Temple of the Gods by Rudolf Steiner

„218“ (Lit.:GA 169)

and the Temple of the Holy Spirit by Paul (1 Cor 6:19).

Awareness of the physical body is awakened especially through the first subsidiary exercise, thought control. Rudolf Steiner shows a meditative way to experience the physical body in (Lit.:GA 16, p. 9ff).

Literature
References to the work of Rudolf Steiner follow Rudolf Steiner's Collected Works (CW or GA), Rudolf Steiner Verlag, Dornach/Switzerland, unless otherwise stated.
Email: verlag@steinerverlag.com URL: www.steinerverlag.com.
Index to the Complete Works of Rudolf Steiner - Aelzina Books
A complete list by Volume Number and a full list of known English translations you may also find at Rudolf Steiner's Collected Works
Rudolf Steiner Archive - The largest online collection of Rudolf Steiner's books, lectures and articles in English.
Rudolf Steiner Audio - Recorded and Read by Dale Brunsvold
steinerbooks.org - Anthroposophic Press Inc. (USA)
Rudolf Steiner Handbook - Christian Karl's proven standard work for orientation in Rudolf Steiner's Collected Works for free download as PDF.
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