Samkhya Yoga - Part 7 - Knowing the soul

Chapter 2 - part 7

Knowing the soul: The Bhagavad Gita

The Bhagavad Gita teaches that soul does not have a form. So it cannot be known by senses. This soul cannot be understood by the thoughts of mind. It is said that this soul remains same without any change.

Soul is not with a clear form, so as to be known by senses. Soul is without form, name, emotion or motion. It cannot be known by the mind. The thoughts cannot reach up to the level of soul. As the soul is with no change or transformation, it cannot be known at any time.

The senses, mind and intelligence are working with the help of consciousness. If it is so, how  they can know the soul? Soul is not within the reach of senses or thoughts or intelligence. So the question is, how the soul can be known? As soul is the only object that have the capability of 'knowing', then, only soul can know it. We uses the consciousness to know everything. By using consciousness we happen to know about every 'matters or physical things' in the universe. Just keep away from the habit of materialistic awareness (knowing others in names and forms) and thereafter the soul can be experienced. Till that time the soul will remain unclear and unthinkable.

By developing auspicious traits and sanctity, one can grasp the theoretical meanings of soul philosophy. After this one can aim at the direct experience of soul. This is the path of soul realization or self realization.

Even if the soul is considered as having births and deaths, there is no point in worrying about soul when the body is lost. If we think that soul is with birth and death similar to body, then there are several births and deaths in the course of evolution. Nothing is immortal. Everything in this universe is affected with change and death. Death is definite for one who had born. Birth is definite for one who had died. So do not worry about a matter which has no solution.

The beginning of  body is not clear. Only middle is clear. Ending also is not clear. So where is the relevance in lamenting about these matters. We do not know anything, from where the whole universe comes or where it goes back to. This is the reason for our confusion and sorrow and the resultant lamentation. To find a solution for this, one has to find out the secret behind this.

Whichever is non existent at the beginning and ending and even if it is seen as existing in the middle, it has to be considered as non existent. It cannot be taken as truth. It is temporary and is called an illusion. In this way, all the matter in the universe can be considered as unreal and they are seen only as a delusion.

<<<< Go to Chapter 2 /part 6                                               Go to Chapter 2 /part 8