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I am the Soul
But the characteristics of both are different, and how can two things, whose characteristics are different, be one?' To clarify the same matter further, the Gurudev explains the difference of the atma and body in another way -
भास्यो देहाध्यासथी, आत्मा देह समान,
qui à as fast, 31f4 RH.....40
O Disciple! Due to your attachment with the body and out of ignorance, body and soul have appeared the same to you, but they are very different. The sword hanging from the man's waist, appears to be but the scabbard. But there is a sword in the scabbard and the two are different. Merely because the sword has gone into the scabbard, they appear to be one. The sword even seems to be golden, as Kavi Banarasidas says -
खांडो कहिये कनककौ, कनक म्यान संयोग;
ret frega de ET, MITE che ha ...! Due to the contact with the golden scabbard, the sword is also said to be golden. But when it is separated from the scabbard and seen, it is but steel. In spite of remaining in the golden scabbard studded with gems, the sword does not turn into gold. It remains its own self. It may well be outwardly known as golden, but it does not forsake its own form and merge with the scabbard. Banarasidass adds -
ज्यों घट कहिये घीवको, घटको रूप न घीव
mit anifah la hist, Sale ita ...
Just as we say a pot of ghee. In fact, the pot is earthen or of some metal, but since it contains ghee, it is called a pot of ghee. In the same way, jiva is also known by the name, color or creed of whatever body it stays in. But these characteristics of the inanimate do not come into the self. It always remains different from the inanimate, because the atma is altogether different from the soul.
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