What are the characteristics of the Soul?
By: Dada Bhagwan
Tags: Awakening, Soul, Mindfulness, Soul Searching, Spirituality

Background: If you don’t think it exists, tell us what, specifically, you don’t think exists. My hope is for people to describe, in detail, the thing they think the word “soul” refers to. I suspect that we may be using one word to describe a number of very, very different things.

When you hear the term ‘Soul’ what materialises in your mind? Some believe that the term refers to an entity which is invisible and immortal that exists inside us. They consider that upon death, this invisible part of the human leaves their body and lives in some other realm — heaven or hell depending upon their deeds. Others believe that the Soul dies within us as we die and represents some noble part of us and in fact does not exist. Since these beliefs are so widespread it is important to acquire the precise meaning of the Soul.

In attempting to understand what the Soul is, it is important to realise what the Soul is not: your body and your ego. The Soul, a separate entity, exists in all living beings and is in fact our true self. Over the millions of lifetimes that we have been reborn, the Soul has remained unchanged.

What are the characteristics of the Soul?

· The Soul is detached from the body. It is devoid of experiencing any form of pain or suffering.

· The Self is the abode of permanent infinite bliss — nothing will affect the internal state of bliss of the Self.

· The nature of the Soul is to only ‘See and Know’ –the Soul knows what the body is feeling or experiencing. It knows when the body is happy, confused or when it is greedy.

· Infinite energy exists within the Soul. The Self is free from any of kind of tiredness, emotions, sorrow or torment.

· The Soul has infinite vision. It only sees the purity in others and therefore is united with everyone and everything. Negative emotions such as resentment, hatred, bitterness and abhorrence does not exist for anyone or anything and relates to the body.

· The Soul never generates merit (good) or demerit (bad) karmas. It is free from any act of I am doing, I am hurting, I am causing — essentially from any acts of doer-ship through the mind, the speech and actions.

· The Soul is free from the cycle of birth or rebirth, it is the body along with the ego which is born and dies.

Due to the lack of awareness of our Soul (who we truly are) as distinct from the body and the ego, we remain in ignorance. Our ego related emotions of attachment, abhorrence, anger, pride, deceit and greed serve to create the bondage of being born and reborn over countless lifetimes. Once we come to the realisation of who we really are then we will gain liberation from this perpetual cycle of birth and rebirth.

How do I come to the realisation of who I truly am?

Only the Knower of separation of the Soul and the body and ego can impart the awareness of one’s own true Self through His Knowledge of separation. Such a being needs to have experienced the Soul and become Self-Realized. Such Beings are Enlightened. An Enlightened Being has known, seen, experienced and permanently lived in His true form; the Soul that is beyond doubt and imagination of shape or form; Thus, He has said that it is beyond form. The Soul’s real form is independent and illuminating. It is not dependent on either time or place. He is separate, the body is separate, and His awareness of his true Self is constant.

One such Enlightened Being- Param Pujya Dada Bhagwan has clarified:

What should one do to get rid of ignorance? Attain knowledge of the Self. Use tools such as books and scriptures for attaining knowledge but if you meet the Enlightened One, then you don’t need any tools. The Soul (Self) is inexpressible and indescribable. It cannot be put into books.