Atharva Veda tells us when Soul (Atma) was provided to human being
Vedic knowledge (Brahmajanan) was revealed. Thus human soul contains
all the knowledge of VEDAS.
Rig Veda says that PURPOSE of Human Birth as already known to human
soul is to assist the Grand Designer (Vishwa Karma) in the maintenance
of His Grand wondrous Design. Rig Veda further enlightens us when soul
administer the gross body a person moves toward self realization and
he/she starts following cosmic laws of necessity (Vedic Rta) relating to
iddm nan mam (nothing for self all for society), path of moderation,
humility, love for the entire animate and inanimate life/things and many
other such cosmic laws. Conditioned by our sensate values and material
knowledge of inert matter, we only see the superficial side of our
identity i.e. the Ego self encased in a sheath (kosha). Brihadaranyaka
Upanishad.
However, Vedas categorically say “Atma” cannot be cognized by any
of the senses and say sense organs.” However, if you do not separate
ecology, science of good governance, science of Axiology with three kind
of values (trivarga) and enlightenment and also do not resist the flow
of life with our inner wakening, one can communicate with the soul
being Vachispatiah.
It is the Soul which makes a person separate and distinct
individual. The Spirit is the cause of his/her social being and along
with mahabhuta- five main elements and three gunas of purity, activity
and stupor, is the cause of good or bad actions of the individuals. The
right and virtuous path is only known to the manifested soul (jivatma),
which is nearest on self-realization and farthest when phenomenal and
the material worlds become the closest (A.V. X-8-8).
The individuals who know and understand the Spirit as the
powerhouse of creativity in them create subtle waves of nobility, love,
and harmony even if they sit silently in any gathering or assembly.
Chhandogya Upanishad describes Spirit as the Creative force, which hides
behind all animate and inmate life/things, moves us, moves the planets
and moves the universe.
Yajur Veda 34-43 refers to human beings as tri-ani pada i.e.
having three bodies in one- divine (causal body where soul resides near
the heart), spiritual (subtle body energized by spirit residing in
shuniya (cosmic void ) and gross body where senses and sense organs
reside).
The soul makes a person divine animal, spirit makes a person social
animal and senses and sense organs make a person material and economic
man.
Hence in the Vedas a man is divine, social and material animal.
Many hymns in Rig-Veda 1-70-2, 1-65-1 and others mention that God lives
in our souls as a true preceptor (Guru). The term Guru in Vedas is from
Gu-darkness and Ru- to dispel. Thus Guru is dispeller of both inner and
outer darkness.
The souls of human beings remain immortal. Based on accumulation of
past and present karma – thoughts, deeds and actions, it becomes
fierce, calm, terrible, fearless, ignorant and enlightened, trembling
and steadfast, forbearing and nonbearing, passionate and ascetic and a
prey to bewilderment (Y.V. 39-7). Thus the quality of manifested soul is
different for each individual. The purity of the manifested soul and
keeping it free from the effect of bad, corrupt and evil deeds, thoughts
and desires make it as our philosopher, guide and friend.
The soul has been addressed by various names and epithets in the
Vedas. Samrat (the ruler of the body), Vaishva Deva, Teja, Vak, Agneye,
Prajapati in chapter 39 of Yajur Veda. Each name or epithet indicates
its attributes, like the controlling lord, the nourisher of human
beings, the just ruler etc., It is also called Twashta – subtle soul. In
Bhagavad-Gita apart from atma, jivatma, words like sah (self), dehin,
deha, sharirin, shariri are used (B.G.3-42, 14-11 and 12, 2-18). All
these later epithets generally mean lord of the body.
The Spirit which is the life force has also its intermediaries,
mind, will, intellect and ego, which are much higher and powerful than
the body self i.e. gross body consisting of senses, sense organs etc.
However, the Spirit becomes more or less effective in the gross body,
not so much with age but kind of activities towards perfection or
otherwise. With evil activities, thoughts and desires the gross body can
start degenerating even at young age and the spirit gets weaker. Many
of the physical sicknesses are related to your activities and thoughts
and get further aggravated with idleness that Bhagavad-Gita describes as
sin. Since God is perfect, the spirit always aims at perfection and in
this movement towards perfection; it helps the gross body to remain
healthy.
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rohit