Query: Atman soul, soul, inner self... Are these only applicable to human
beings?
Vijay Kumar: Your query pertains to,
"Regarding Atman soul, soul, inner self... Are these words only applicable to human beings?
Atman soul... the inner self of a being and particularly in respect of
a human being is the real absolute essence of life. It is Atman the Soul within... the true real inner self of us
present within every human being that has for its purification taken a body.
Without a body... no Atman the soul within... the
true inner self of us can purify itself on its own. Similar as the metal within the metal ore cannot purify itself
on its own. It needs a body... the requisite machinery for it to be separated from the impurities contained within
the metal ore. Likewise, the atman soul present within every human body requires a body to work out its karma.
Karma is the process by which atman the soul within is able to remove
the dross from within itself. Right from the first manifestation as an amoeba to the last manifestation as a human
being... the effort of our atman the soul within is to regain its pristine glorious form... the absolute purified
state of atman the soul within!
This absolute purified state of atman the soul within is stage of
enlightenment beyond which the reason for manifesting a life (a body) again and again ceases to exist! As any human
being reaches the stage of enlightenment... it liberates itself for ever from the cycle of birth and death. The cosmic
life thus has come full circle!
As in Hinduism... the life cycle of manifestations in the life of an atman soul is a mind-boggling 8.4 million
manifestations. Every Jiva (living
being)... nay every human being passes these stages and bound by the theory of karma... reaches the stage of enlightenment in
the end. There is no escape for any Atman soul from the cycle of manifestations.
The whole process... though seems to be complex is absolutely defined.
From the beginning to the end... the path is well-defined in the foremost of all the sacred scriptures
existing our Mother Earth namely Bhagavad Gita. The doctrine of Bhagavad Gita put forward by
Lord Krishna in the battle
of Mahabharata between the
Kauravas and the Pandavas is an exemplary document for those proceeding on the path of pure spirituality.
Every truthful seeker of spirituality must adhere to whatever has been a stated in Bhagavad Gita. Without following the dictates per se it is not only difficult but rather
impossible for one to gain enlightenment within this life.
How meditation is
required to be performed... the importance of practicing celibacy on the path of spirituality...
having a firm spiritual goal to be achieved in this lifetime... the reasons for taking absolute control of senses
and the mind... reaching the stage of Nirvikalpa Samadhi...
following the path of Neti as practiced and advocated by Maharishi Ramana are
some of the pearls of wisdom included in the Bhagavad Gita.
Proceeding on the path of spirituality following any religion, cast or creed is immaterial... the end goal of all
being reaching stage of enlightenment ( self
realization) and finally salvation moksha in Hinduism.
Whether you drink water... or Jala (in Hinduism) or Paani (as in
Islamic tradition)... the purpose of all is drinking pure water. Reaching the end of the journey is the cosmic goal
of life of every Jiva (living being).
Before manifesting the form of a human being... one has already passed
through the stages of insect life, plant life and animal life. These are the stages in which the animal instinct is
predominant. The power of discrimination... the power to think is not as much evolved as in human
beings.
Devoid of the power of discrimination and thinking... the plant and
animal life is limited to living a life as destined by God Almighty. It is only as a Human Being that we become the
masters of our destiny. It is within the power of every human being to realize God within this life. Whether
we choose the ultimate goal of our cosmic life as the goal in this life or not is totally dependent upon
us.
Every form of life for that matter has an atman the soul
within it! It is a different matter that only in human beings the option of recognizing this power... the
existence of god and atman (the soul within us)
exists.
As the Jiva evolves a step further in the stages of various
manifestations... the power to recognize the system of God enhances... the complete realization occurring
only in form of a human being!
For all practical purposes... the recognition of Atman soul, soul and inner self rests with the human form... all
other elemental forms of life being only a precursor to the final show.
May God bless you!
Always there to clarify your queries (send your query),
Essay by:
Vijay Kumar "Atma Jnani" ... The Man who Realized God in 1993!
Vijay
Kumar explains concept of Atman in brief Audio (Eng) (3.1
MB) Audio Hindi (3 MB)
(all clippings take few seconds to load initially -
suitable for broadband internet connection preferably above 256 kbps. More clippings on Glossary of words in
Hinduism to follow soon... stay tuned! Send a subject of your choice... on which you want to hear vijay kumar
speak!)
Full text of query: I saw your site and i would like to clarify my
doubts. Atman soul, soul, inner self and so many words are mentioned there. I could not understand. Are these
things specially applicable only for humans?
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