(Sanskrit, or sarira) Literally, "easily dissolved" but interpreted to mean "body." Hinduism understand the multidimensionality of nature, including our own, and studies it using a variety of models. In some cases, it is said there are three sharira or bodies: the sthula-sharira (physical body), sukshma-sharira (subtle body, which is actually three bodies in one), and the karana-sharira (causal body). When the three parts of the "subtle body" are expanded, it is then said we have five bodies. The three parts of the subtle body are the vital, astral, and mental bodies.