The Eternality of SOUL

Lord Krishn was a friend, philosopher and guide to the Pandavs. HE helped Arjun and his brothers (Pandavs) whenever they faced a difficult situation. But never preached something like what he preached to Arjun in the battlefield.Arjun’s mind was overcast with confusion, uncontrolled passion, pride and ego. He wasn’t interested in mere suggestions, but looking forward to know the actual reality. So Arjun put himself at the mercy of Krishn and said that he (Arjun) was nothing but HIS earnest follower only. Once Arjun’s surrender was complete, The Lord unveiled the mystery of the universe before Arjun, a symbol of a true devotee and The Gita was created not only for Arjun alone but for all the human beings.

Surrendering to the Lord implies foregoing ignorance (pride and ego). Pride and ego create illusion which acts like a veil on a mirror. Just like we can’t see ourselves properly in a veiled mirror similarly illusion prevents us to look at our inner self properly.

The Lord told Arjun not to grieve for his relatives. He said to Arjun about the eternality of the SPIRIT.

The Lord said, "It is not that I or you, or all the kings present in the battlefield, did not exist in the past (i.e. all of them existed in the past), nor is it that we will ever cease to exist in the future.’’ (2/12)

The wise who knows that the body is mor­tal and the SPIRIT is immortal have nothing to complain about. After the death, physical body is only destroyed, but SPIRIT or SOUL can’t be destroyed.

People meet and depart in this world as two pieces of wood flowing down the river come together and then separate from each other. When the pieces of wood are separated, it doesn’t mean that they cease to exist.

The Self (or Atma) or SPIRIT or SOUL or consciousness is the source of life. SOUL can’t be perceived by our physical senses because SOUL is beyond the domain of the senses and all objects. The senses are intended only to understand physical objects.

"The SOUL is neither pierced by weapons, nor burnt by fire, nor made damp by water, nor dried up by wind.’’ (2/23).

"One who thinks that the SOUL is a slayer, and one who thinks the SOUL is slain both are ignorant because the SOUL neither slays nor is slain." (2.19).

The SOUL is neither involved nor affected by any external activities or forces. It implies that the SOUL is imperishable. Externalities are related to the physical matter, and these are changeable. Pleasure, pain, success and failure and such external forces don’t affect a SOUL. But the external sources of joys and sorrows are perishable. External sources of happiness ultimately turn into source of sadness because these are all mortal. But happiness, if can be enjoyed from the inner self, is sustainable. Internal source is imperishable.

The main theme is that the SPIRIT is eternal, not destroyable and unchangeable but the physical body and senses are subject to be changed and destroyed.

Realization of imperishable SOUL with respect to perishable body is known as transcendental knowledge or self knowledge.

Understanding the eternality of the SOUL and vulnerability of the physical matters is important to appreciate the true meaning of ’selfless action’.