Stand or sit comfortably with your arms relaxed by your sides. While focusing on your right arm, slowly begin lifting it up to the side, little by little. As you are performing this, try to focus on every little sensation in your arm. Slowly proceed to lift it above your head until it is perpendicular to the floor. Now just as slowly return it back to its original place by your side.
Now try to play back those sensations by lifting up an ‘imaginary’ arm. Do it just as slowly as you did your physical arm. Notice how vividly those sensations can be recreated. Note that the sensations are the same, but not quite. They are more subtle, and that is the name that this mental projection of ourselves is sometimes given: the subtle body. Try the exercise with your other arm as well. Note that we are not really imagining this, but rather performing a mental action. Try to feel the difference between the two.
Try to touch the wall, ceiling and/or objects around you using your subtle hands. How does it feel? Now increase the size of the subtle palm of your hand to the size of a snow shovel. How does the ceiling feel now? Make a hand as small as a quarter. Repeat the exercise and touch the ceiling, or something with a rough texture. If everything is done correctly, it will feel different depending on which size of the hand you choose.
Extend your subtle finger to ‘pierce through’ your palm. Observe the sensations in your palm as you begin to twirl your (real) finger. Alternatively, you can do a sprinkling movement, as if you are sprinkling salt on your palm.
Try to sense a layer of subtle body that surrounds your physical body. Hold your palm over your lap about 15cm away. Now move your palm closer until you can sense resistance. Once again, you may feel warmth, vibration, pressure and/or tingling. Try hovering like that over the other arm’s shoulder, over your chest, over your head. Notice how this layer is thicker and more prominent over some body parts and not as prominent over others.
