jIvA and the soul (was: Bhakti and jnana)

[Guest guest]

namaste.

 

I have posted this in the advaita-l list a few moments ago.

I think that our list advaitin will also be interested in

this. Any comments, clarifications are very much appreciated.

 

 

On Wed, 15 Nov 2000, Ram Chandran wrote:

> Harih Om Sundarji:

>

> Thanks for your points. Here is my understanding. Jiva is the living person

> (manifested Atman with the body, mind and intellect). I do not see any

> problem in saying that Atman is always detached from body, mind and

> intellect. We should recognize that Atman or Brahman can never be equated to

> the english word, 'soul.' But there is no english word other than 'soul' is

> available to designate Atman. The bottom line is that Jiva is not the 'soul'

> but jiva is much more than the 'soul.' I hope that this additional

> clarification can clear the confusion.

>

> regards,

>

> Ram Chandran

>

 

namaste.

 

If I can intrude into this discussion briefly,

 

This is one of the points where the english language and the sanskrit

language and also the eastern and western thinking need to find a union

point in understanding. I notice many books do not clarify this point

and quite often blur the distinction.

 

As I understand:

 

jIvA is the individual entity with a physical body, mind and intellect

and also with the thinking that he/she is an individual, apart from

the others.

 

soul is the essence of the jIvA; soul will not (need not) have a

physical body and mind, but the essence of the jIvA, the thinking that

he/she is an individual apart from others is still there. We may take

the soul to be the subtle body carrying forward the essence of the

jIvA.

 

Atman is the Consciousness that I am. The Atman powers the jIvA (and

the soul). Apart from Atman, neither the jIvA nor the soul (or anything)

exist.

 

 

Regards

Gummuluru Murthy

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