A brief outline of the material necessary for explaining the greater
context of healing and spiritual work. 11/11/98 AHM.

Title: Samskaras and Healing.


The possession of a series of bodies, e.g. physical, emotional,
	mental, intuitive, etc. Of these three are reformed each
	time we are born, while four exist through both death and
	birth. 

Distortions may occur in all these lower bodies up to the sixth(?).
	Probably only to fourth where the samskaras are stored? 
	These are generally known as samskaras. They are of different
	types and origins.

The spiritual path (or even the path to mental and physical well
	being) involves clearing out the distortions in the bodies
	and bringing them all into consciousness. This is our
	evolution back to the Godhead.

As we progress we are able to manifest more and more of our highest 
	spiritual being on the physical plane. This journey is not 
	about escaping our bodies (although that may be the final 
	step), but about being fully in them. Otherwise what would 
	be the point of having them to begin with?

The key is that, just as ultimately we are not our physical bodies,
	we are also not identical with our other bodies. Our sense
	of Self must evolve to higher and higher levels.

None of our bodies, however, are irrelevant for our full functioning 
	as realized human beings. E.g. just as our physical body is
	necessary, and should therefore be properly fed and clothed,
	our emotional bodies and egos are necessary and should be
	cared for and maintained.

In order to heal or evolve, we need to clean each body, not simply
	throw it away, or ignore it. This process requires that we
	be able to witness each aspect of each distortion from a
	place of detatchment and neutrality, realizing that what we
	are observing (rather than experiencing) is an aspect of a
	shell that is not integral to out highest Self. Only by
	accepting that and releasing it simultaniously can we really
	let it go and be free of it. Note: while this is true for
	the deepest distortions, some more superficial ones can be
	removed without serious examination.

As we clear each body we become fully conscious in that body and
	can turn our focus to the next. It is not that our bodies 
	will not experience pleasure and pain anymore, but that our 
	relationship to that experience has changed. 

We have the ability to experience anything from any of the levels
	of consciousness associated with each of the bodies. The
	choice is to be conscious at as high a level as possible,
	but this depends on not being unconscious at lower levels.

There are a great number of tools that may be used in this process
	of clearing and purifying the bodies. Each culture and 
	religion has developed their own. There are tools for working
	with most of the cruder bodies, and working on one affects
	the others. Which are most appropriate for a given individual
	depends largely on their physical and cultural circumstances
	in this life time and what work they need to do. While it is
	possible that some techniques are inherently more powerful
	or effective than others, almost all will have a place in
	the grand scheme of things. On the otherhand for a given
	individual there are generally going to be some methods that
	are most effective at any given point along the path.