Is there such thing as a "Spiritual" reality separate from the physical one?
Written by Dada Bhagwan
Is there such thing as a spiritual reality separate from the physical one?
Yes, there certainly is!
If so, how do you define it?
Soul means Aatma; Aatma means Self. The Soul is our real Self - that’s the spiritual reality.
For any living entity to exist in the Universe, they must have a Soul within because Soul is the life-energy. Without a Soul, there can be no life! However, Soul is subtle. Hence it cannot be seen. It can be fully experienced though.
Param Pujya Dada Bhagwan, the Enlightened being, defines:
“Aatma means the Self. You may say, “I am John (please insert your name here)” But John is the name of the body. Should you not know ‘who am I’ in this body? It is that Self (the spiritual Self) which you need to recognize...”
And how would you explain it?
“The Soul is an eternal element. There are six such elements and the world is made up of these six elements. These six eternal elements are revolving around one another, constantly undergoing changes; and as a result the phases are arising (human beings, animals, insects – ‘the physical reality’ - are all phases of the Soul). It is because of these phases that this world is seen. In this world, only the phases are visible.
Whatever (physical) we can see with the eyes, all of that is a non-element, it is temporary (will get destroyed). And the Soul is eternal; an element. Anything that is eternal is called an ‘element’ and anything that is temporary is called a ‘non-element’”, says Param Pujya Dadashri..
How would you explain it to someone who has never experienced it before?
The Enlightened One explains:
“The Soul is an element made up of knowledge and bliss.
It knows what all 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 it is the nerve or that the brain knows. But who reads the brain?”
Brain is only an organ and it exists in a dead body too; but a dead body is not able to know anything. So there is something else due to which we know and understand things. And that something is the Soul:
which when present in the body, a person is said to be living; and when it leaves the body, the same body is called a dead body;
which when present in the body, a person is able to know things, and when it leaves the body, the same person is not able to know anything.
Param Pujya Dadashri explains further:
“You cannot see air, but you know this is air, isn’t it? Can you see the fragrance? But even then you are convinced that it is perfume. This is how you can be convinced that there is Soul. Just as you recognize perfume by its fragrance; you can recognize the Soul from the Soul’s bliss; and then you will be able to see this world as it is.”
Soul (the spiritual Self) is indeed the source of infinite bliss! However, to experience this bliss, we need to realize the Self.
Akram Vignan provides a stepless path to Self-Realization
Akram Vignan is the spiritual science of today’s age. It provides a stepless path to Self-Realization. Stepless means one does not have to persevere hard to go up every step of the ladder (implying to renounce the world and do penance, fasting, chanting, meditating, etc.). Rather, directly with the divine grace of Akram Gnani (the Enlightened One), one easily attains Self-Realization. And that too in just two hours through a scientific process called ‘Gnanvidhi’, wherein the Gnani puts in a line of demarcation between the Self (the spiritual reality) and the non-Self (the physical reality).
So come, let’s go to the Akram Gnani and experience what we’ve never experienced before!
Article author
About the Author
Ambalal M. Patel was a civil contractor by profession. In June 1958, spontaneous Self-Realization occurred withi
Ambalal M. Patel. From this point on, Ambalal became a Gnani Purush, and the Lord that manifested within him became known as Dada Bhagwan. A Gnani Purush is One who has realized the Self and is able to help others do the same. Param Pujya Dada Bhagwan used to go from town to town and country-to-country to give satsang (spiritual discourse) and impart the knowledge of the Self, as well as knowledge of harmonious worldly interactions to everyone who came to meet him. This spiritual science, known as Akram Vignan, is the step-less path to Self-realization.
Further reading
Further Reading
Article
How common is self-love, what happens without it, and how does it relate to self-esteem?
Self-love is very essential in boosting our self-esteem. A person having self-love is contented with his own presence, whereas a person who does not have self-love always wanders to get love from other people or things. He is always restless. He never feels satisfied even after receiving love from people. His hunger for love never ceases, and hence he demands more and more attention from others. As a result, his relationships are ruined and he always lives in misery.rn rnSo,
October 23, 2025
Article
Who is a True Guru? How to choose a Spiritual Guru?
Grave danger in uprooting a Guru Do not accept a known guru as guru, and if you do, then do not turn your back on him. Use a pot if you do not like him. The pot will not have any problems. Worship it because your buddhi (intellect) will not be active there and your work will get done. Now who would be so careful that he would not allow his intellect to interfere? How can one understand all this? Questioner: At the time we make someone our guru, he appears to be very good, he
September 4, 2025
Article
How can I balance material responsibilities with spiritual goals?
The spiritual science of Akram Vignan helps us find the balance between taking care of our material responsibilities and pursuing our spiritual goals, very easily, as this spiritual science works alongside our material obligations. In Akram Vignan, the fundamental change starts internally when the ignorance of the Self is completely removed through the grace of the Enlightened Being (Gnani Purush). Here, Self-Realisation is attained through a scientific process of Bhed-Vignan
August 29, 2025
Article
What is the importance of Living Guru?
Questioner: If we surrender to the great souls that lived thousands of years ago, can that be considered surrender? Can we make any progress through such surrender or do we need to surrender to a living great man? Dadashri: You can progress even through Paroksha (indirectly- one not currently living). However if you find such a living (Pratyaksh) person, then your liberation will be instant. The indirect approach will give you the benefit of progress but there is no liberatio
July 9, 2025