body being the expression of the subtle body, its birth, growth, decay
and death depend upon the changes of the subtle body. As long as the
subtle body remains, it will continue to express itself in a
corresponding gross form.

Now let us understand clearly what we mean by a subtle body. It is
nothing but a minute germ of a living substance. It contains the
invisible particles of matter which are held together by vital force,
and it also possesses mind or thought-force in a potential state, just
as the seed of a plant contains in it the life force and the power of
growth. According to Vedanta, the subtle body consists of
_Antahkaranam_, that is, the internal organ or the mind substance
with its various modifications, mind, intellect, egoism, memory, the
five instruments of perception: the powers of seeing, hearing,
smelling, tasting and touching; the five instruments of action, such
as the powers of seizing, moving, speaking, evacuating, and
generating, and the five _Pranas. Prana_ is a Sanskrit word which
means vital energy or the life-sustaining power in us. Although
_Prana_ is one, it takes five different names on account of the
five different functions it performs. This word _Prana_ includes
the five manifestations of the vital force: First, that power which
moves the lungs and draws the atmospheric air from outside into the
system. This is also called _Prana_. Second, that power which
throws out of the system such things as are not wanted. It is called
in Sanskrit _Apana_. Third, it takes the name of _Samana_,
as performing digestive functions and carrying the extract of food to
every part of the body. It is called _Udana_ when it is the cause
of bringing down food from the mouth through the alimentary canal to
the stomach, and also when it is the cause of the power of speech. The
fifth power of _Prana_ is that which works in every part of the