Hello!

I've not asked a question of the EWTN forums in several years, however, after searching the forums and all Catholic sources on the subject (including extensive searches), I'm coming up short on answers and I'm very interested to know the Catholic perspective on the Buddhist phenomena of what is called the "Rainbow Body."

Raimbow Body is a phenomena whereby advanced, saintly practitioners of Buddhism - certain Llamas - enter an advanced state of meditation right before they die, so after a few days, all that remains of them is hair and nails, and they are able to release their body back into the elements from which it was made. They are sometimes known to appear to their followers with a "body of Light" after death.

I know this may sound curious, or even impossible, however there are historical accounts of this phenomena going back hundreds of years.

I know Jesus or course rose from the dead and appeared to His followers. I also know Gnostic Christians may have taught this technique to Buddhists from mystery schools. Additionally, we know certain people, like Elijah - were taken up to heaven, and certain Saints seem to do the reverse - their bodies do not decay after death.

Might this phenomenon be a sign of holiness, or simply a normal human process science has yet to really understand? After all, some Yogis can regulate their body in such a way as to enter a state of hibernation, something many people are not trained to do.

Would you mind answering what a Catholic should believe about this subject? I've severly doubted my faith for quote some time because this seeming "miracle" seems to lend credence to another faith. I very much appreciate your time!

I've found the following articles on the subject, out of the many mentions on the Internet:

Article on a Catholic priest's investigation into the phenomena: http://discovermagazine.com/2007/jun/soul-search http://www.snowlionpub.com/pages/N59_9.html http://www.noetic.org/library/audio-lectures/the-rainbow-body- phenomenon-with-father-francis-ti/

Some other Catholic and Christian commentary: http://integrallife.com/member/greg-mayers/blog/rainbow-body-and- resurrection http://www.thinkingchristian.net/C228303755/E20070511082921/inde x.html

Finally, a book which is a little skeptical (but leaves room for the possiblity of the phenomena being real): http://books.google.com/books? id=vkAJtFpXDP0C&q=%22rainbow+body%22#v=snippet&q=%22rainbow% 20body%22%20and%20%22entirely%22&f=false

Dear Anon,

I cam see that you are deeply troubled by this question of a "Rainbow Body". The answer does not depend on doing more research into the question. For the more basic question is whether you believe all that the Church teaches, specifically on the question of the resurrection of the body on Judgment Day. That is the larger question. That is the one who have to face. Do you believe all that the Church teaches because Christ teaches it? Or do you feel free to pick and choose among those teaching according to way you read the Bible or study world religions? Do you believe in the supremacy of private judgment in religious matters or do you hold for the primacy of faith in the teachings of the Catholic Church. There is no harm in researching your particular question but not if your faith weighs in the balance.To make the results of you research a condition for believing is to be already off the path of faith. You should realize that. If you do, then your basic question is about the nature of the Catholic faith.

Dr. Geraghty

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