Rainbow body facts for kids

The rainbow body is a special idea in Buddhism, especially in a part of Tibetan Buddhism called Dzogchen. It describes a body that is made of pure light, not a normal physical body. It's like a person's body turning into a rainbow at the end of their life.

What is the Rainbow Body?

The rainbow body is a spiritual idea found in Tibetan Buddhism. It suggests that a person's physical body can change into a body of light. This happens when someone has reached a very high level of spiritual understanding. It's seen as a sign of great wisdom and control over one's mind and body.

How it Happens

According to the teachings of Dzogchen, achieving the rainbow body means a person has completely understood the true nature of reality. They no longer see things as separate or solid. Instead, they realize that everything is made of energy and light. When such a person passes away, their physical body is said to change. The energy that makes up their body is released. It then becomes pure light, like a rainbow.

Famous Examples

One of the most well-known figures often shown with the rainbow body is Padmasambhava. He was a very important teacher who helped bring Buddhism to Tibet. In many traditional Tibetan paintings, called thangkas, Padmasambhava is shown with a rainbow-like glow around him. This shows his great spiritual power and his connection to the rainbow body idea.

Images for kids

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  Tibetan letter "A" inside a thigle. The "A", which corresponds to the sound ‘ahh’, represents kadag while the thigle represents lhun grub.