How would you define the concept of 'soul'? Do you believe this definition accurately reflects our current reality?

The Soul (Aatma) is best defined as ‘the Self’, our real Self

“Atma means the Self. You may say, “I am John (you may insert your name here).” However, John is the name of the body. Should you not know ‘who am I’ in this body? It is that Self which you need to recognize...

~ Param Pujya Dada Bhagwan

Recognizing the real Self means Self-Realization.

Soul is our true identity. However, due to ignorance, we cannot realize this fact. It is only when Gnani Purush graces us with the knowledge of the Self, that we are able to attai
Self-Realization. The purpose of human life is to know who really am I.

And until we attai
Self-Realization, let’s learn some more about what is a Soul...

Soul is an Element!

Across various belief systems and philosophies, the Soul is perceived as something that is timeless and infinite. The Soul is an eternal element that has existed forever. It is immortal and has remained unchanged.

And what does this element actually comprise?...

Soul Is in the Form of Knowledge and Bliss!

The soul is made up of knowledge and bliss. This is a property that explains the meaning of the Soul. The soul knows what is happening. It understands the experience of pain and happiness. How does one know that this leg is aching and this one is not? One may argue that it is the nerve or the brain, which knows. However, who reads the brain?

The brain is only an organ and it exists in a dead body too, but a dead body is unable to know anything. So, there is something else required to know and understand things. When present in the body, a person is:

1) said to be living; and when it leaves the body, the same body is called a dead body.

2) able to know things, and when it leave the body, the same person is unable to know anything.

What is that thing? That element itself is the Soul!

Let us further understand what the Soul is like.

• The Soul is the life energy. Without it, there is no life. A body without a Soul (once dead) implies that the body has no life, and hence, it is unable to feel happiness or pain. So, wherever there are sensations and emotions, there is knowledge of pain and happiness, where there is a feeling or growth, it implies that there is a Soul - life energy in that body.

• Soul is eternal bliss. The Soul is free from the feelings of happiness and unhappiness. It is an everlasting bliss, independent of the circumstances. Whereas the mind, body and ego are dependent on external factors, which determine their happiness or unhappiness.

The soul is a constant, unchanging entity. It remains unaffected by the ups and downs of life. On the other hand, our physical body is subject to these fluctuations depending on various circumstances and the people we encounter.

• Soul is completely pure. It is totally free from the passions of anger, pride, deceit, greed, like or dislike, and has always remained pure, without being smeared by anything or anyone. For instance, we often feel elated when someone praises us and upset when someone insults us, but the pure Soul is not affected or influenced by any circumstances.

• The Soul is free from any effects of suffering. The Soul does nothing but see and know everything. The Soul never becomes the doer of anything, unlike the ego that assumes it is the ’doer’, and that is why it becomes a sufferer too.

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