Attainment of Rainbow Body

by Ursula-Maria Hanrahan

In Tibetan Buddhism there are teachings such as in the Bon tradition where the five elements of the body are being used to refine the physical body to support the state of clear awareness or meditation. Those teachings say that in turn the meditation practice transforms the physical body into the pure body. It is my understanding that when we use the body and its five elements in accord with the soul's intent of being of service and to learn the laws of creation such as the law of compassion and love, the physical body transforms to the degree that the very smell of the body becomes a fragrance. This is not to be confused with the magical appearance of beautiful fragrances which come and go and which would be called a Siddhi. What I am referring to is the result of true transmutation into pure love or compassion.

When I was traveling in India I visited several temples, which were built for enlightened Masters. What I liked about those places is the fact that they all had the peaceful vibration of enlightenment, but each of the temples had a different feeling like different fragrances. I am reminded of reading in the book "Love without End, Jesus speaks" (Ref.2) where Jesus says "Who you are is love" and "only you can love the way you love."

I have been drawn to the Tibetan Buddhist teaching of attaining Rainbow Body and truly believe that this is not only possible for select Tibetan Masters but it is the evolutionary potential of human beings as we grow into the love that we are.