Physical World
Formerly known as the Sthula Plane-is in the theosophic scheme of things the lowest of the seven worlds, the world in which ordinary man moves and is conscious under normal conditions. It is the limit of the ego's descent into matter, and the matter which composes the appropriate physical body, is the densest of any of these worlds. Physical matter has the seven divisions of solid, liquid, gas, ether, super-ether, sub-atom and atom, in common with the matter of the other worlds. Besides the 、 physical body, familiar to ordinary vision, there is a finer body, the etheric double, which plays a very important part in collecting vitality from the sun for the use of the denser physical body, and reference is made to the articles on the Etheric Body, and Chaksams. At death, the physical body and the etheric double are cast aside and slowly resolve into their components. (See Worlds, Planes or Spheres, Theosophy.) Pierart, Z. T.: French Spiritualist and editor of La Revue Spiritualiste. M. Periart was born in humble circumstances but managed to secure for himself an adequate education. He became in time professor at the College of Maubeuge, and afterwards secretary to Baron Du Potet. In 1858 he founded La Revue Spiritualiste, and led the French spiritualists, between whom and the spiritists under Allan Kardec there existed a certain rivalry. Until his death in 1878 he continued to devote his time and talents to the movement with which he had identified himself.
Pierre, La: (See Palingenesy.)