La is the capacity to experience the five elemental qualities: groundedness, comfort, inspiration, flexibility, and accommodation.

La is usually translated as "soul," but more accurately, la is the depth of who we are on the most essential level. It represents the balance of the five pure lights—the pure elemental energies. On the level of ordinary life, la has the capacity to experience the five elemental qualities: groundedness, comfort, inspiration, flexibility, and accommodation.

This la is associated with karmic traces—specifically, the karmic traces that make us human, rather than something else, like a turtle, a deer, or a dog. Our la is a human la. The la of a alligator is alligator la, and the la of a dog is dog la. In this way, la determines the kind of being we are, as well as our individual identity and capacity.

La is made up of the five elements: space, wind, water, earth, and fire. So even though we might call it a “soul” in English, we should remember that it's not a permanent, independently existing thing located somewhere in heaven. Rather, it's an aggregate—a coming together of these five elements. It’s the union of heat, water, wind, space, and earth. La underlies our vitality. It is our inner strength as individuals.

Our la can be damaged or enhanced. It can be stolen, and it can be retrieved. For example, when we are humiliated, our la is weakened. When we succeed in something that’s important to us, it is strengthened. If we act with integrity, our la becomes stronger. But when we betray ourselves, it loses its vigor.

Tenzin Wangyal Rinpoche often translates la as basic human goodness. I really like this definition. He calls it that because la is the basis of our capacity for positive qualities. We are born with the capacity to trust our mothers and fathers. We are born with the capacity to develop love and connection. We are born with the capacity to be kind. You can see this in young babies and small children—their natural warmth, love, and trust. This is basic human goodness. It's basic love, basic trust, and basic connection.

This basic human goodness can be developed through ethical conduct and spiritual practice. As we practice, our la becomes stronger. Our basic human goodness grows. And if it becomes weak, we can heal it.

Of course, we will always encounter events and conditions in life that disturb or disrupt the la—things like family problems, political upheaval, depression, illness, or accidents. If the la is hurt by such events and lacks the strength to recover, our basic human goodness can be damaged. Our capacities to trust, to love, and to give and receive can become constricted. This is how damage to the la manifests—psychologically, energetically, and even physically. The positive aspects of la—groundedness, comfort, inspiration, flexibility, and accommodation—can all become diminished or lost.

We’ve probably all experienced times in our lives when we felt less grounded, uninspired, rigid, inflexible, or simply not accommodating toward ourselves or others. These are signs that our la may be weak and in need of healing.

In Tibetan astrology, it's said that la is the mother of the life force. If the la is damaged, the life force is diminished. This damage can happen slowly over time or all at once—such as after a traumatic accident. Long-lasting damage might include persistent fear, negative self-image, or bleak views of the world. In Tibetan, this condition is known as soul loss.

Our la is the capacity to feel joy or sadness, trust or mistrust. The state of our la manifests in all our mental capacities: our feelings, thoughts, and emotions. When la is balanced and strong, the thoughts and images that arise in our minds are healthy and whole. Wholesomeness arises naturally. But when the la is damaged, our thoughts often become negative and unhealthy.

When our la is out of balance, we can turn to the practice of working with the five elements. We can reestablish our connection with the elements in nature. This interbeing with the natural world can restore and revitalize our la—our basic human goodness—because it is made up of these five elements and five qualities.

When we recognize beauty, even in difficult circumstances—even when things are not going our way—our life force is enhanced. This helps heal us and allows our natural qualities to reawaken. Recognizing relative beauty can enliven and open us. It nourishes the life force at a deep level.

Practices such as sincere prayer, heartfelt aspirations, and spoken intentions can also increase the life force. Wherever we are, we can touch into the beauty around us. We can feel appreciation for simply being alive—for all the conditions and qualities present right now. Life force energy can be retrieved through the senses by opening, accepting, and appreciating.

Whenever we feel closed, constricted, or diminished in our basic human goodness, we can reconnect to the world through this simple practice: touch the beauty that’s inherently present, and allow ourselves to open, accept, and appreciate it.

People who are in loving relationships—whether with partners or pets—tend to live longer and heal faster than those who are alone. Why? Because where there is love, there is connection. There is interbeing. And with interbeing, appreciation and vitality manifest naturally.

We can connect directly with each of the five elements—earth, space, water, air, and fire—to help strengthen our life force and nourish the positive qualities within us. It's a beautiful and essential practice to bring mindful attention and appreciation to these elements, which come together to form our la—our basic human goodness.