Atmasiddhi

SR No.: 007524
Original Sutra Author: Shrimad Rajchandra
Author: Manu Doshi
Publisher: Manu Doshi
Total Pages: 147
Language: English
Classification: Book_English, Spiritual, & Rajchandra
File Size: 1 MB

Page 59

The pupil had suggested that the body or the sense organs or the breath could be treated as soul. Since knowing capability is the basic attribute of soul, the Guru asks him to examine whether any of the above three aspects has the capability to know. Every one has seen that at the time of death the body stays without the capability to know. It does not have any sense of feeling and does not experience pain, even when it is cremated. Therefore the body cannot be the soul.
Now consider the sense organs. They experience the senses of touch, taste, smell, etc. when the body is alive. When it is dead, the sense organs continue to be in the same place, but they lose the capability to experience. If some food is put on the tongue, it cannot taste; if a flower is brought near the nose, it cannot smell; the eyes which used to see different objects even from a distance, can no longer see, even if the objects are brought close to them. The same is the case with sound and touch. The ears cannot hear and the skin cannot feel. All these organs used to function, while the soul was there in the body, but they cease to function as soon as the soul leaves. Hence the sense organs cannot be the soul.
Now examine the breath. Respiration is an essential activity of a live body. It continues uninterrupted for the whole life. As soon as the body is dead, it stops breathing. One may therefore tend to equate breath with life. A study of the breathing mechanism would indicate that it is a device to provide oxygen to the body. But oxygen is not the life. Had it been life, the longevity could be extended indefinitely with the help of oxygen cylinders.
The respiratory system is no doubt essential for life, but it does not constitute life. There are various other activities like metabolism, blood circulation, brain activity, etc. which are also essential for life. In fact, brain stoppage is considered the sure sign of death. All these activities, including breathing, are incidental to the live body (body with the soul in it). None of these activities can be equated with soul.
Thus neither the body nor senses nor breath can be the soul, because they function only when the body is alive. The movement of the body and the knowing capability of the senses prevail in the presence of soul and they stop functioning in its absence. Therefore it is only the soul that perceives, sees, knows, and experiences.
Sarva Avasthäne Vishe, Nyäro Sadä Janäy; Pragat Roop Chaitanyamay, E Endhän Saday.
It is always seen as distinct during all the states; manifest consciousness is its
ever present characteristic. (54)
Explanation & Discussion:
The pupil had also raised the question of some sign or mark with which soul can be identified and had asked how it would be possible to accept the existence of soul in absence of any distinguishing mark. The Guru tells him that as long as there is soul, all the parts of the body remain live and conscious; awareness is evident in every part of the body. That is the sign of consciousness. It is experienced not only when one is awake, it prevails even during the sleeping, dreaming and slumbering states. If a fly or mosquito sits on the body while one is asleep, he moves it away by waving the hand.