Ideal 2

In Buddhist philosophy there is not one ideal but three. One is for the physical body, the second is for the energy system of the organism and the third is mind. 

All of these three - physical body, energy and mind - are called body. The Sanskrit word for body is kaya. 

The ideal physical body is thus called nirmanakaya. The perfected energy level is called sambhogakaya. The perfected mind level is called dharmakaya.

The normal ideal for the physical body is that it be strong and healthy. But nirmanakaya is not particularly strong. Indeed, it has almost no physical quality at all. Instead it is a visual manifestation. It looks like body but behind the surface there are no intestines and organs.

The ideal is to be able to manifest in different ways according to circumstances and need.

The most important body is the body of knowledge, dharmakaya. This makes Buddhism a bit particular.