Atma the Self

Author(s): Punyadarshanvijay
Publisher: Sanmarg Prakashan

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.... ĀTMĀ
Liberated Soul: It means liberation from births, old age, deaths, fear, misery, hunger, sickness, bodily wants and desires. With complete annihilation of Karmic Vargaṇā it becomes spiritually pure, formless, (without body), with infinite omniscient knowledge, undifferentiated cognition (perception). Infinite spiritual bliss and energy, eternal life, absolute equality in all respects with others. Settle down permanently in the magnificent region "Isad Pragbhāra" - the topmost central region of the Cosmos, in spiritual splendour.
The Self....
Non-liberated Soul: Impure Soul is with form (body). It means inequality at every stage, every moment, amongst every soul, continuous deaths and rebirths in different existences and bodies, bondage and sufferings.
They have three material bodies created by varganā (molecular combination of matter)
i) Invisible subtle body - 'Tējas' - static energy.
ii) Invisible subtle body - 'Karman' - seed of all physical and mental activities and
iii) Visible or Invisible - 'Audārika' - outer physical body for all living beings. Celestial and Infernal beings have 'Vaikriya' (Astral body) body instead of 'Audarika' body.
Non liberated souls have upto ten Prana-life forces. Sense of touchtaste-smell-vision-hearing, activities of mind, speech and body, respiration and duration of life (minimum of four i.e. touch, body, respiration and duration of life for immobiles).
The immortal Soul in conjunction with activities of life forces results in different existence and body, happiness and unhappiness, etc. All Souls have five inner-senses (Bhāvēndriya) and inner-mind (Bhāva-mana).
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