Can a high-level body exist without the craving for food?

In order to keep his body alive, ramakrishna had to rely on the craving for food. Is it not possible for a high level body to exist without any such craving? In which body does such assistance become necessary? If the bodies are of the higher states -- such as the fifth, sixth, or the seventh body -- would they be required to be maintained with the aid of any such craving as well?

Ramakrishna was very fond of food -- excessively. One might say he was crazy after food. Even in the middle of a profound religious discussion he would walk to the kitchen and ask his wife Sharada what she was cooking for dinner. Then he would come back and resume the discussion. This caused aggravation not only to Sharada, but to his close devotees as well. The devotees were concerned that if word got around of their master's weakness for food, it would create a scandal. Actually, disciples are always greatly worried about their master! They are always very nervous lest their master's name be dragged into disgrace. So finally they said to Ramakrishna, "Your all of a sudden dropping a serious discussion for the sake of food does not look good upon you. And why should the food matter so much for a man of your stature?" What Ramakrishna said…

Osho, Sri Ramakrishna Paramhansa had to lean on the longing for the savor of food to keep his body going. Is it possible for a higher body to remain without relying on any such rasa? In which body does such a support become necessary? In the higher domains of the fifth, sixth, or seventh body, is any rasa still needed to sustain the body?

Ramakrishna was very fond of food—more than necessary. One could say he was crazy about it. A discussion on Brahman would be in full flow, and in between he would get up, go into the kitchen, and ask Sarada, “What have you made?” Then he would return and resume the discourse on the Absolute. Sarada was vexed, of course, and the close disciples were also worried: if people came to know, there would be great scandal. In fact, it is the disciples who worry too much about the guru. They are heavily burdened with anxiety that the guru might be maligned—someone might say this, or say that. Finally Ramakrishna was asked, “Is it becoming of you to leave a discourse on Brahman midway and get involved in talk of food? It doesn’t seem appropriate. And for a person of your stature—food?” What Ramakrishna said was astonishing. He said, “Perhaps you…

When the self -- living inside the food body -- and the vital body thinks through the instrumentality of the fourteen organs like mind, et cetera, about objects like sound, smell, touch, et cetera it is called the manomaya koshu or the mental body.

WHEN THE SELF, UNITED WITH THESE THREE BODIES, KNOWS THROUGH INTELLIGENCE, IT IS CALLED THE VIGYANMAYA KOSHA OR THE KNOWING BODY. WHEN THE SELF, IN UNION WITH THESE FOUR BODIES -- FOOD BODY, VITAL BODY, MENTAL BODY AND THE KNOWING BODY -- DWELLS IN ITS PRIMEVAL AND CAUSATIVE IGNORANCE IT IS CALLED THE ANANDAMAYA KOSH OR THE BLISS BODY. And when there is no experience, only the experiencer remains. When there is no known object, only the knower remains. When there is nothing to be witnessed, but only the witness is, then you are centered in yourself -- then you ARE; otherwise, you belong to this body or that. This is not a body. This is the original nature. This is the existential source of all being. Two or three things more. When you transcend the bliss-body, you transcend individuality also. When you transcend the bliss-body, you transcend life and…

Osho, after attaining the fifth body or any of the subsequent bodies, does one still have to assume a gross physical body in the next birth?

Yes, that is correct: after attaining the fifth body, a person will not be born into this gross physical body. But there are other bodies. There are other bodies. In fact, there are bodies of the kind we have called “deities.” After the fifth, such bodies can become available. After the sixth, even those kinds of bodies will not be available. Not the bodies of “gods,” but the kind of body we have called “God,” Ishwar, will become available. But bodies will continue to be available; what kind they are is a very secondary matter. Only after the seventh will no bodies be available. Only after the seventh will there be a disembodied state. Before that, subtler and subtler bodies will keep becoming available. Grace is superior to shaktipat.

A collection of sheaths composed of nourishing food, in the form of the physical body is called the annamaya kosh, or the food body. The fourteen kinds of winds, like the vital energy, et cetera, circulating through the food body, are called the pranayama kosh, or the vital body.

This physical layer is the first, is the primary layer -- the outermost. If you can be aware that you are unnecessarily the slave and need not be, then change your body habits consciously. By and by, change. Change the seat of power; be more in control. And give to the body all that is needed by it, but never fulfill any addictions. It will be painful in the beginning, but it is a bliss when you have reached beyond the body and have become the master. And when you are on the throne, it is one of the deepest blisses possible. Matter and energy are not two things. Matter is just energy, energy is just matter -- Two states of one thing. The second body is the vital. The vital body is the energy body, the electricity body, or whatsoever name we like to use for it -- the…