The body consists not only of the visible physical essence, but of four other subtle sheaths or "bodies." In total, a person is composed of five "bodies" or "koshas".

Five koshas:

ANNAMAYA-KOSHA - "the body of nourishment" - the physical body

PRANAMAYA-KOSHA – "body of energy" – astral body

MANÓMAYA-KOSHA - "mind body" - astral body

VIJNAMAYA-KOSHA – "body of knowledge" – astral body

ÁNANDAMAYA-KOSHA - "body of bliss" - causal body

Karmas (deeds) and SANSKARS – memories and experiences – are stored in baskets. They form screens between the individual soul and the universal Self. MOKSA, liberation, means freeing the atma from the five koshas. In order to unite with anything, we must develop in ourselves the same qualities as what we want to merge with. Until the baskets dissolve, until we give up our ego, until we identify with our small self, we cannot unite with the unlimited.

On the other hand, all five baskets are indispensable for being on this earth. We could not exist without them. Removing the boundaries of the koshas is a multidimensional cleansing spiritual process. The process of spiritual development. Only when there is not the slightest impurity, no shadow left in a person, will even the astral "bodies" dissolve at the end of life, and the spark of the soul will connect with the boundless light of God.

ANNAMAYA-KOSHA is the physical body. They are influenced by the food we eat, the environment and the society in which we live. Therefore, yoga emphasizes the importance of good and solid interpersonal relationships and the importance of a healthy sattvic diet. Both are important for both physical and psychological development. Consumption of meat (including fish), alcohol and drugs drains the life force and fills the body with negative energies. The body benefits best from a complete lacto-vegetarian diet.

PRÁNAMAYA-KOSHA is a subtle envelope of cosmic energy. It permeates and surrounds the gross body. It creates an "aura", a radiation that emanates from us. Prana is subtle food, we need it to live just like food and drink. With each breath, we receive not only oxygen, but also prana. The quality of our prana is subject not only to external influences, but also to the influence of our thoughts and feelings. It then affects the other baskets itself.

MANÓMAYA-KOSHA, the covering of the mind, has greater scope and power than pranamaya-kosha. It goes to infinity. Thoughts and the mind can be transported to any place in an instant. That is why it is so difficult to control the mind. Vedantic philosophy teaches: MANÓMÁTRAM JAGAT – The world is only mind. Innumerable planes and worlds exist within the mind of every being. Every thought, every idea, every feeling is a world unto itself. Only control over the mind will allow a person to control destiny. The best way to master the mind is to cultivate good thoughts and qualities. This means following the rules of yama and niyama, trying to understand, understand, give, pray, practice mantra and purify your karmic phenomenon.

VIJNAMAYA-KOSHA is the covering of the intellect. It can also be equipped either positively or negatively. It depends on the society we live in and the sensory impressions we receive from our surroundings. Vijnanamaya-kosha consists of experience, upbringing, education and represents the sum of everything we have learned in this life. However, intellect is not the best guide. He often does not want to see the reality and judges according to the selfish wishes of a person. Intellect can work as a very effective tool, on the other hand, it can be a great obstacle. That is why we should deal with VIVÉKA - with the ability to distinguish.

ÁNANDAMAYA-KOSHA is the envelope of delight. The delight wrapper is the most subtle of all five baskets and the most difficult to overcome. The urge to fulfill desires and wishes, the desire for pleasure and enjoyment is a huge driving force. There are two kinds of joy. A time-limited trance of joy and, on the other hand, an experience of eternal bliss. The first feeling depends on certain circumstances - for example, the fulfillment of a wish - the second feeling is unlimited and therefore independent of any external conditions. Infinite joy and unlimited bliss (maha-ananda) occur only in union with the Supreme Self. All other joys and pleasures are temporary, fleeting and limited.

Anandamaya-kosha can only be freed by jnana (knowledge). Bhakti (devotion to God) leads just before the goal. However, the last stage can only be mastered by understanding what the true reality is. Only then will we attain moksha (liberation).

The five koshas that surround the jivatma can be compared to the skins of an onion. The "being" of the onion cannot be separated from the skins either chemically or physically. The same is true of a person's identity. If we observe the body, we say: "This is my body, these are my hands, my legs, my head..." If we go deeper into our interior, we become aware of our thoughts and feelings. We say, “These are my thoughts, experiences…” and so on. This means that all this belongs to us, but it is not identical with us. That "I" is apparently something else. The body, thoughts, feelings, intellectual knowledge are mere envelopes that surround the core of the being. We can get to that if we penetrate through all the layers that cover them.