Life of a Soul: Under the Shadow of Gita

By Ram Malik

The human soul is "God miniaturized." Soul consciousness is to experience the Divine, and it is a part of you which never sleeps, never forgets, and is eternal. The soul, in this profundity, has a likeliness and nearness to God. The soul is the energy of universal love, wisdom, and compassion. Souls are an expression of beauty, imagination, and creativity. Rig Veda speaks of soul and God as two birds of beautiful wings, friends by nature who are perched on the same twig of a tree.

You are neither body nor living being but Almighty Himself. We are spiritual beings with human experience and not human beings with spiritual experience. Matter (body) and souls, although as real as God, are dependent on God. The soul is placed in the body like a rough diamond and must be polished or the luster of it will not appear.

If you see the moon, you see the beauty of God; If you see the sun, you see the power of God. If you see the mirror, you see the best creation of God. So choose the best you like, the best creation of God. The human body, created by God in His own image and in His own liking, is the jewel of creation and has the capacity to deliver the soul from the cycle of birth and death to a higher level of existence. If you install God's image in the temple of your heart and keep His company all the time, He does not have to wait to visit you at times of need.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Newman Springs Publishing, Inc.
• Release date: Nov 7, 2022
• ISBN: 9781684981052

Book preview

Contents

1.0 Introduction

1.1 Birth of a Human Being

1.2 Human Living State

1.3 Source of Human Soul

1.4 Relation of Human Soul to Supreme Soul

1.5 Evolution of a Human Being

1.6 Animal, Mineral, and Plant Kingdom Souls

1.7 Consciousness of Existence in Matter, Animals, and Humans

1.8 Soul in Human Body

1.9 Personality, an Instrument to Karmic Debt

1.10 Creating Karmic Debt with Intentions

1.11 Human, a Product of Karma

1.12 Karmic Debt Payoff

1.13 Healing of the Soul

1.14 Making the Soul Strong

1.15 Eternal Records of Karma (Akashic Records)

1.16 End of a Life Journey

1.17 Humans Coming Back as Humans

1.18 According to Reincarnation

1.19 Reincarnation and Immortality

1.20 Consciousness in the Next Life

1.21 Karmic Debt Carry Over

1.22 Faculties of the Soul

2.0 Soul’s Aids (To Connect to God)

2.1 Prayers (For God Connection)

2.1.1 Power of Prayers

2.1.2 Prayers through Bhajans (Devotional Songs)

2.2 Karma (Karma Yoga, a Way to God’s Connection)

2.2.1 Karma and Its Impact on the Soul

2.2.2 Absolute Law of Karma

2.2.3 Karmic Law, a Just Law

2.2.4 Effects of Law of Karma

2.2.5 The Law of Karma and Reincarnation

2.3 Meditation (Means for God Connection)

2.3.1 Purpose of Meditation

2.3.2 Meditation Benefits

2.3.3 Meditation Requirements

2.3.4 Meditation as Practiced by Pandit Shriram Sharma

2.3.5 Soul Consciousness during Meditation

2.3.6 Raja Yoga Meditation

2.3.7 Power of Transcendental Meditation (TM)

2.4 Yoga (Connecting to God)

2.4.1 Types of Yoga

2.4.2 Yoga details by Patanjali

2.4.3 Physical and Mental Aspects of Yoga

2.4.4 Sankhya on Yoga

2.4.5 Science of Yoga

2.4.6 Yogi

2.5 Surrender (To God)

2.6 Charity (God’s Will)

2.7 Faith (In God)

2.8 Mind and Thoughts (Means for Connection to God)

3.0 Human Gods

3.1 The Enlightened Souls

3.2 Mothers

3.3 Gurus

4.0 God

4.1 Human as God, Part of Supreme Soul

4.1.1 Vedanta on God

4.1.2 God Created Human Body

4.1.3 God Made a Woman

4.1.4 God’s Hand in Support of Human Life on Earth

4.1.5 God in Our Lives

4.1.6 God’s Gift

5.0 Gita

5.1 History of Gita Simplified

5.2 Gita and Science:

5.3 Summary of Gita Chapters

5.3.1 Gita Chapter 1

5.3.2 Gita Chapter 2 (Yoga of Knowledge)

5.3.3 Gita Chapter 3 (Karma Yoga, Path of Selfless Service)

5.3.4 Gita Chapter 4 (Path of Renunciation with Knowledge)

5.3.5 Gita Chapter 5 (The Path of Action and Knowledge)

5.3.6 Gita Chapter 6 (Path of Meditation, Yoga of Self-Control)

5.3.7 Gita Chapter 7 (Self-Knowledge and Enlightenment)

5.3.8 Gita Chapter 8 (The Eternal Brahma)

5.3.9 Gita Chapter 9 (Yoga of the Sovereign Science and Secret)

5.3.10 Gita Chapter 10 (Manifestation of the Absolute)

5.3.11 Gita Chapter 11 (The Yoga of the Vision of the Cosmic Body)

5.4.12 Gita Chapter 12 (The Path of Devotion)

5.3.13 Gita Chapter 13 (Creation and the Creator)

5.3.14 Gita Chapter 14 (Modes of Material Nature)

5.3.15 Gita Chapter 15 (The Supreme Being)

5.3.16 Gita Chapter 16 (Devine and the Demonic Qualities)

5.3.17 Gita Chapter 17 (Threefold Faith)

5.3.18 Gita Chapter 18 (Nirvana through Renunciation)

6.0 Hinduism

6.1 Hindu Wisdom

6.2 Idol Worshipping in Hinduism

6.3 Vegetarianism in Hinduism

6.4 Marriage Status of Hindu Gods

6.5 Hindus in the Eyes of the World

6.6 What Is Special about Hinduism

7.0 Vedanta (A Universal Ideology)

7.1 Karma and Sanskara

7.2 Shankra (A Teacher of Vedanta)

7.3 Vedas

7.4 The Principal Upanishads

7.4.1 Mahapurana Srimad Bhagavatam (MSB)

8.0 Sanskrit (The Language of Gita and of Hindu Culture)

9.0 Building Blocks of Human Spirituality

9.1 Words of Wisdom

Addendum 1: Bhagavad Gita as It Is

Addendum 2: The Living Gita

Addendum 3: Fifth Track to Spiritual Journey

Addendum 4: One God One Message

Addendum 5: The Future of God

Addendum 6: Theories of Death

Addendum 7: Spirituality, a Perfect Science

Addendum 8: Spiritual and Yogic Healing

Addendum 9: Science and Religion

Addendum 10: God’s Hand in Support of Human Life on Earth

Addendum 11: Process of Change How to Change Your Behavior One Step at a Time

Addendum 12: Human Brain and Mind

Addendum 13: Sanskrit Language In Hindu Culture

References

Life of a Soul

(Under the Shadow of Gita)

The writings and talks of some notable philosophers inspired me in putting this text together. These multisensory humans which included Ralph Waldo Emerson (once called Amerca’s Shankaracharya), Gary Zukav, (author of The Seat of the Soul), Deepak Chopra, Wayne Dyer, Aldous Huxley, Eckhart Tolle, President Sarvepalli Radhakrishnan, Albert Einstein, Pandit Shriram Sharma, Dr. Ramananda Prasad, Dr. Karan Singh, Mr. Narinder Kumar, Swami Mukundananda, Swami Sarvadevananda, Vamadeva Shastri, Sisters Kusum and Shivani of Brahma Kumari who have been bestowed with His grace in acquiring Jnana (wisdom) and Vijnana (spiritual knowledge). They put their souls and minds on something and achieved an extraordinary place where their mind could not produce the data of the type they wanted and they were in the territory of inspiration where their intuitions accelerated and they knew that there was something more than physical life.

Foreword

I have closely observed persons who are always seeking for true knowledge and thriving to acquire an insight about Hinduism, Vedanta, Vedas, Upnishads, Hindu Mythology, Karma, Samskara they have several questions, doubts, queries related to Hinduism, Bhagavad Gita. This is where Ram Malik’s terrific book comes in: An amazing book LIFE OF A SOUL under the shadow of Gita. So, as you hold this book in your hands, you are beginning a journey that will make you drive in ocean of positivity, goodness, and motivation. Isn’t that amazing? I am sure the thoughts expressed in this book will invoke your emotions. Some of the chapters may have a deep effect, renew your mind, change your attitude, then your life will change for better. Ram Malik has done a wonderful Job by writing this book life of A soul under the shadow of Gita.

Foreword Life of a soul under the shadow of Gita written by Ram Malik is a multivalent book there is something in it that will reward every serious reader. It is not merely paraphrasing or just another translation of one out of hundreds of existing translations of most sought-after Scripture Bhagawad Gita. It would be tedious to argue further about the comprehensiveness of the book’s workout, but readers can be assured that the coverage is exhaustive. Ram Malik’s admirable organization of chapters summarizes the Bhagavad Gita’s plot and positions it in the chapter 5 strategically, after covering all aspects to understand it.

As Ram Malik has told us, the teachings of the Gita are presented in the form of a dialogue between Sri Krishna and Arjuna. The background of the battlefield imparts a dramatic charm. The suggestiveness of the book is almost without limit if it is read with the right attitude of mind. The book is organized in Nine chapters and each chapter takes the reader deeper in to the understanding of infinite storehouse of knowledge that lies within every human soul. What follows is the summary of each chapter.

Chapter 1 LIFE OF A SOUL (under the shadow of Gita) begins with an Introduction to human soul, its source, its preferences, its powers, its health, its connection with God along with its support system and its destination. Chapter covers all aspects of birth of a human being to its living state, source of human soul, Relation of human soul to supreme soul, its evolution as human being, role of Karma, end of a life journey from reincarnation to immortality and consciousness in next life. Chapter ends with spiritual sayings of various spiritual teachers, thereby giving readers a chance to delve into a deeper thought process.

Chapter 2 SOUL’S AIDS (to connect to God) gives the pointers to connect to God in very simple manner. Author describes these pointers as Prayers, Meditation, Karma Yoga, Love for humanity, Surrender to God’s will and Being kind and merciful. Then Ram Malik explains each pointer in detail starting with first pointer, prayers, defining power of prayers, how prayers can be offered through Bhajans along with spiritual sayings on Prayers. Second pointer is Karma and its impact on soul along with purport on various laws of Karma their effects and reincarnation. Next pointer is Meditation, describing its purpose, benefits, requirements, steps of Meditation, next pointer is Yoga and its types, followed by next pointer i.e., Surrender to God, Charity (God’s will), Faith (In God), Mind and thoughts (means for connection to God) ending with Spirituality (way to God’s connection) also covering aspects of Scientific Spirituality, what is Moksha and describing some acts to be worthy of Moksha. The beauty of this chapter is that after describing each pointer Ram Malik has given points to ponder, giving reader a chance to contemplate over each point.

Chapter 3 HUMAN GODS begins with discourse on human Gods along with discussions on enlightened souls, mothers and Gurus who show us the path to God and enlightens our spiritual souls, do the work of God and hasten our super consciousness. Finally, chapter ends with describing the importance of the Guru a spiritual teacher who is merely a vehicle through which the love of God passes to us.

Chapter 4 GOD begins with discussion God is the eternal soul underneath all forms of life. The whole of nature is worship of God. What Vedanta says about God is that according to Vedanta, God is to be reasoned on, because the Vedas say so. Reasoning helps inspiration. Realized reason and individual perception, both are proof of God created human body with trillions living cells from earth elements, each cell with a specific roll to play. God made a Woman with special features and endowed with several unique characteristics God’s has bestowed humans with several gifts such as sunlight, air to breathe etc., and has a hand in support of Human life on earth we can feel the presence of God in our Lives our lives are surrounded with God’s Gift, finally chapter ends with Godly Words.

Chapter 5 is the soul of the book. It begins with history of Gita presented in very simplified and lucid manner followed by sayings of world scholars on Gita, discussion of how Gita and science, science and spirituality are unified and corelated. Next section is summary of Gita chapters, followed by discussion on chapters of the Gita. The unique feature of Ram Malik’s presentation is that each chapter of Gita is presented in very easy to understand language for modern readers and each chapter begins with Motto of chapter and its summary. Followed by details of verses and their discussion. The list of Gita chapters covered in chapter 5 is as follows:

Gita Chapter 1

Gita Chapter 2

Gita Chapter 3 (Karam Yoga, path of selfless service) Gita

Chapter 4 (Path of Renunciation with Knowledge)

Gita Chapter 5 (The path of Action and Knowledge)

Gita Chapter 6 (Path of Meditation, Yoga of self-Control)

Gita Chapter 7 (Self-Knowledge and Enlightenment)

Gita Chapter 8 (The eternal Brahma)

Gita Chapter 9 (Yoga of the sovereign science and secret)

Gita Chapter 10 (Details of Verses in Chapter 10)

Gita Chapter 11 (the Yoga of the vision of the Cosmic Body)

Gita Chapter 12 (The path of Devotion)

Gita Chapter 13 (creation and the creator)

Gita Chapter 14 (Modes of material nature)

Gita Chapter 15 (The supreme being)

Gita Chapter 16 (Devine and the demonic qualities)

Gita Chapter 17 (Threefold Faith)

Gita Chapter 18 (Nirvana through renunciation)

Chapter 6 HINDUISM starts with the origin of Hinduism, discussions about Hindu wisdom busting various myths, answering several questions, guiding, unveiling Ram Malik takes this chapter on Hinduism forward discussing idol worshipping in Hinduism, vegetarianism in Hinduism, marriage status of Hindu gods, Hindus in the eyes of the world and finally describing what is special about Hinduism. This chapter is really well written and is an answer to common questions about Hinduism in very concise way.

Chapter 7 VEDANTA a universal ideology describes what Vedanta means. It is said Vedanta means that the start to end of Vedas the idea of the Vedanta is to harmonize all religions of the world. Chapter also highlights the idea of Nirvana and how nirvana can be attained. Chapter further deals into discussion of what is Karma and Sanskara. It describes about Shankra—A teacher of Vedanta, followed by description of Vedas and also gives Shankras view on Vedas. Shankra claimed that Vedas are the only authentic word of God and that God has spoken to the world only through the Vedas.

Later chapter gives some Vedic Advice, Vedic ethics discussion on significance, importance of Gayatri Manter, answering the question about ethnicity of Hindu Mythology. Chapter also discusses the principal of Upnishads, Mahapurana Srimad Bhagavatam, followed by Conversation between Krishna and Uddava, which is the most beautiful passage in the Purana. Actually, it is the conversation between Lord Krishna and Uddhava. This conversation is almost the recasting of Bhagwat Gita in three sections termed as Avadhuta Gita—1, Avadhuta Gita—2 and Avadhuta Gita -3 which are beautifully presented in this chapter.

Further chapter describes how Lord Krishna emphasizes that if one has to be trained in the path of the Brahman he has to fulfill the requisites, all the requisites are sequentially listed in the chapter, finally chapter ends with advices on living in Kaleyug.

Chapter 8 SANSKRIT (the language of Gita and Vedas) chapter describes What exactly is Sanskrit? It is beautifully explained in the chapter that Sanskrit is the continuity of tolerance and unity, which are the essential characteristics of India’s religion and culture that is conveyed by the language of Sanskrit.

Chapter 9 WORDS OF WISDOM begins with a collection of judiciously collected sayings of swami Vivekanand, Deepak Chopra, Braham Kumaries followed by discussion on life lessons. Discussion and collection of thoughts on Fear and Love, Work is Worship. Followed by collection of curated sayings of world philosophers. The chapter further delves into building blocks of human spirituality i.e., attitude, character, and happiness. Chapter also describes life of a joy, fear and love, role of heart, personality, compassion, morality, and consciousness. Read the book, and enjoy the Journey!

Dr. Kshitij Shinghal June, 2022

Some Comments By Thinkers

1. Re: LIFE OF THE SOUL under the shadow of Gita

I have gone through the book, and I find it is just marvelous. Various principles of Gita have very well described and explained the intricacies in very simple manner. You have also covered various tenets of Hinduism.

The description of soul, its immortality and being part of God, the process of rebirth on the basis of karmas of past and present life and God and soul being the same, all this is superb. The explanation that God is not such an entity who lives at some place high in the skies but is present in every living being—human as well as non-human—and in every object or element in the universe, is something which is the essence of Hinduism. The description of evolution of man, soul and human body, power of prayers, theory of Karma, effects of meditation, yoga as a means of comprehensive development and not some physical exercise only, devotion to God, charity, mother and guru being like God are highly commendable. The description of Gita as a scientific book which comes true on the anvil of reason and vivid description of its various chapters are highly appreciable.

The description of Hinduism describing various aspects of this Sanatan Dharma, its unique tenets—which are not found in any other religion or faith in the world—and its various Scriptures, all this is highly appreciable.

In the book, very good examples are also given. I will mention here one example only where you have mentioned God as ocean and soul as a cup. The soul—the cup—takes water from the ocean but the water doesn’t change its quality or its form. Similarly, the soul comes from God but it doesn’t change its nature.

I am sure the reader will be greatly benefitted by this work.

Sudhir Gupta, Advocate,

Chairman—Moradabad Institute of Technology Group of Institutions,

Past District Governor, Rotary International D-3100,

National Committee Member, India National Polio Plus Committee,

Chairman—S.S.G Foundation,

Convener—Society for Adhyatma Studies (Adhyatma Gyan Evam Chintan Sanstha),

Convener—Forum for Legal and Social Reforms.

2. RE: LIFE OF A SOUL under the shadow of Gita

LIFE OF A SOUL book written by Mr. Ram Malik addresses the complex issue of the Soul, and its relation with humans and God. In the main chapter on the soul, he quotes beautifully, "The seers proclaim that they felt the reality of God in the depths of their soul and their knowledge is direct. This is sovereign knowledge, sovereign secret, supreme sanctity, known by direct experience.

He explains in details as how the birth of a human being is the highest phase of conscious evolution and how one progresses to closeness to God in each subsequent reincarnation and that chance is offered to humwans only. Furthermore, the personality of human beings is the result of Karmic Debt generated by past and present Karmas. The karmic debt must be paid off to attain Moksha.

Prayer, surrender to God, and Meditation are some of the tools well narrated in the book. A good compilation of sayings from different authors touches your heart. I would like to mention a few of them as follows.

Sufi Wrote: I searched for God and found only myself. I searched for myself and found only God.

Zukav, the author of ‘The seat of the soul,’ states, pray to God that His grace be given to you and empower you to sail through agony, disappointment, and sorrow."

There is a magnet in your heart that will attract every one you know. That magnet is thinking of others first. when you learn to live for others, they will live for you.

Death is like, the night kissing the Day with a whisper, saying I am death, your mother, from me you will get new birth. Life and death are interlinked to each other and death may not constitute the extinction of life, but rather its extension by other means.

I congratulate Mr. Malik for entirely covering such a large subject of Soul, Hinduism, and Gita in his book and has done a marvelous job.

Manmohan Sehgal

MSc. E

A Student of Gita; Interested in Spirituality and Philosophy

3. RE: LIFE OF A SOUL under the shadow of Gita

In the book LIFE OF A SOUL, Author Ram Malik has presented in-depth analysis of the philosophy of Gita, its preaching, and the real explanation of the word soul. I found the book very informative on every aspect of life and even an ordinary human being can benefit with the wisdom offered in the book. It explained the essential teachings of Hinduism professed in Gita. A strong read by all concerned.

Alok Kumar

B.Sc., B.E., M.S.

Retired State of California Engineer

4. RE: LIFE OF A SOUL under the shadow of Gita

I have really engrossed myself through the book, Life of a soul under the shadow of Gita. and I find it is just awesome. It described various principles of Gita and explained the intricacies in an amazing manner. Various tenets of Hinduism, Tolerance, Forgiveness, Truth, Patience, Charity, not a closed-circuit religion and not bound by various idiosyncrasies, liberal and open religion, everyone is free to act as per one’s knowledge wisdom, conscience, intelligence and necessity, no rigidity and exclusiveness, all are described spectrally. Your description of God presents in all movable, immovable, living and non-living entities and exists in each molecule and everything that exists is amazing.

The book defines the relation of a soul with Supreme Soul, Human Soul is a miniature of Supreme Soul is like a Frugal in words fathomless in meaning or say Gagar Mein Sagar.

The concept of rebirth based on Karma, accumulated effects of deeds done in the present and previous births is astounding. The quality of one’s life is the sum total of deeds done by an individual in his previous life(s) and the Karma of present life.

The quotes provided on various tenets are unique and commendable. I am sure the reader will be greatly benefitted by your work and will bless you for your splendid job.

Rakesh Kapoor

Writer, Poet and Student of Gita.

Conducting Gita Class on Zoom for students from many countries of the world.

Introduction

Publisher feels honored in presenting this collection of spiritual and sacred subjects which makes you feel grace of God and makes soul consciousness, a soul which is everything, all wisdom, all knowledge, all power and all glory to experience the Divine.

The longest journey that one makes in one’s lifetime is from one’s head to one’s heart and most of us are still on this path and this journey into the heart is to attain wholeness, integrity and compassion. With this journey our consciousness is changing and so are our values and goals. The new goal is spiritual development. Compassion and wisdom are the products of spiritual growth. Spiritul growth is the need of humans from every culture, race, sex and religion. With this spiritual growth we are realizing that we are more than bodies and minds, more than atoms and molecules, and our presence in this universe is not temporary but has been and will be more than once.

This book is all about the human soul, its source, its presence, its journey, its nature, its desires and its connection with God, and its support system and its destination. Why and where the soul comes from, why and how does it decide to enter a human body. Sages say soul is God miniaturized if so, what are the similarities between human soul and Supreme soul. What does the soul want? Thinkers say that soul wants nothing as Soul consciousness is only to experience the Divine. Soul is a proof that God is a source of all humans and the universe and to know Him is to know all.

It has been expressed in the book, that according to the laws of spirituality, each soul is in the process of evaluation from one birth to another. The soul acquires greater purity at each birth. The birth of a human being is believed to be the highest phase of conscious evolution. At each successive reincarnation, the soul acquires greater purity and passes through higher and higher stages of spiritual evolution. Also, according to the law of Karma, which states that the karmic debt earned in one life, must be paid off in subsequent birth(s) and for that reason, after a soul leaves this body, the soul has no choice other than coming back to this world in human form to pay off the karmic debt, that it earned in the previous life, and not come back in any lower form of an animal or insect. Humans being most conscious creatures in this universe, the next step in the evolution of consciousness is approaching Godhead and hence humans are good candidates to get Moksha in next birth if Karma credits it. Soul’s greatest desire is to experience higher and higher aspects of itself,. and so it seeks to move upward on the evolution scale than going downward, until it experiences Moksha and that is the ultimate objective of life.

Sages state that man is divine, but he is not aware of its divinity. He thinks he is this little body. But he is not this body, space, and beyond body and beyond the universe. Divinity is beyond words and concepts.

As God has given humans full right to do whatever he wants, so man does what he does, and in the process earns karmic debt. The soul chooses, voluntarily, to undertake this experience to use this body, this energy tool, to function within the framework of the physical world. The cycle of birth and death may go through many lifetimes. If the karmas are good, the soul is spared from going through this cycle and the karmic debt continues to reduce till it is all depleted and the soul returns home and merges with the supreme soul. This journey may take many lifetimes, but you will complete it.

The author has expressed Death as a fulfillment of our purpose here on earth. The concept of reincarnation is a powerful tool and can provide comfort and stability to us when we are in a sad and sorrow state of mind. Life and death are interlinked to each other and death may not constitute the extinction of life, rather its extension by other means. The soul leaves the body when it finds no purpose in keeping it. At the time of death, soul is aware of Oneness that is blissful and sublime. Death is not the opposite of Life. Life and death are interlinked to each other. You must end where you begin. You begin from God and you must end at God.

Author has expressed the means to connect to God. Pointer to connect to God are through prayers, meditation, karma yoga, love for humanity, surrender to His will, and being kind and merciful to human beings. Love for humanity is loving God. Unconditional love connects you and God together and faith brings trust that God will respond to your hopes. He who has faith, has all. With faith, you directly and immediately appropriate God as is your own and as your savior. The faith is a corner stone of Spirituality and faith makes us better human beings. Love and faith are two most important qualities that make a substantial relationship with God possible. A direct experience of God requires love and faith, both of which play integral roles in preparing you to be with the Lord.

To improve your mind and soul, you must pray. Prayers smoothens the soul’s way to the supreme soul. The road to your soul is through your heart, where God resides. Prayer unites the soul to God.

To connect to God, what do you need? Pointer to connect to God are through prayers, meditation, karma yoga, love for humanity, surrender to His will, and being kind and merciful to human beings. Wise men state that you can establish communication with God through prayers, and by surrendering to God for Him to take up human errors and faults. Surrender here means reconnecting you with your soul and your intentions make that happen. Feel not what your mind tells you, but what our heart tells you. You will not find God in your intellect. Divine intelligence is in your heart. If thou seek God then see him in Man. His divinity is manifest in man. Man is the greatest manifestation of God. If you cannot see God in all, you cannot see God at all. If you cannot love man whom you can see, how can you love God whom you cannot see. With love and faith, you let the divine being know that you care enough that God will come and give you God’s self. For that you have to silence the mind and emotions and develop a stillness that you can wait for a response from God. With meditation and prayers, a person can clear the mind of the world and the distraction of the senses in preparation for this meeting with God. Karma yoga is a method of approach to the goal of life, according to Gita, and culminates in wisdom and hence holding karma and bhakti are means to spiritual freedom. Karma yoga is the manner in which a man realizes his own divinity through work and duty. Love is God and God is love. Love for humanity is loving Him. God is pure, infinite, unconditional love. Love connects you and God together, and faith brings trust that God will respond to your hopes. A direct experience of God requires love and faith, which prepare you to meet Him. Love creates the opening that something genuine will occur in relationship with God. Faith is a supernatural act. He who has faith has all. He who lacks faith lacks all. It is faith in the name of God that works wonders, for faith is life and doubt is death. With faith, you directly and immediately appropriate God as is your own and as your savior.

World Philosophers’ Views on Soul

What is soul, why and where it comes from, why and how does it decide to take a human body, what is the connection of human soul with that of supreme soul, what are its likes and dislikes, how a soul gets sick and how and what makes it healthy, how is it affected by human behavior, and where does it go after it leaves the physical, mortal body?

Most world Philosophers state that the soul is everything, all wisdom, all knowledge, all power, and all glory. The soul is a part of you which never sleeps, never forgets. Soul is a proof that God is a source of all humans and the universe and to know Him is to know all. Jnana (scientific knowledge) and vijnana (spiritual knowledge) acquired by many philosophers prove that God exists, but their knowledge of God is indirect. The seers proclaim that they felt the reality of God in the depths of their soul and their knowledge is direct. This is sovereign knowledge, sovereign secret, supreme sanctity, known by direct experience. The truth is there, shining before us, waiting to be seen by us, if the obstructing veils of Karma merits it. The Supreme is to be seen by one as one’s own self with a purified soul. If one asks, Is not the end point of man’s journey the union with God? The answer is No! The end point of man’s journey is not union with God because there was never any separation. Human’s soul is an aspect of God Himself. God shows Himself in many ways and through many of His enlightened beings. Soul is heavily influenced by humans through their act of divinity and forgiveness. He has for humans devised ways and means through power of prayers, meditation and yoga, one can touch the Supreme. Most of the philosophers from the east and west part of the world believed in the existence of the soul and in reincarnation. But there is one major difference in thinking between east and west scholars in regard to reincarnation. Many western thinkers believe that according to the laws of spirituality, each soul is in the process of evaluation from one birth to another. That is, at each successive reincarnation, the soul acquires greater purity. The birth of a human being is believed to be the highest phase of conscious evolution on earth. Being born means arriving at another chance of life and arriving at a new level of insight and creativity. The process repeats itself over and over, each time progressing to a slightly higher closeness to God in each subsequent reincarnation. Also, the rewards and punishment in this world and beyond depends on the state of consciousness of the human being. That is, at each successive reincarnation, the soul acquires greater purity. In successive reincarnations, the soul passes through higher and higher stages of spiritual evolution. Additionally, the law of karma reaffirms that one’s next existence on this earth will be influenced by one’s last existence. Karma is the ultimate cause for reincarnation experience. In this way, the quality of one’s life is the sum total of deeds done by an individual in his previous live(s). Thinkers further state that karmic debt earned in one life must be paid off in subsequent birth(s). If so then, after a soul leaves this body, the soul has no choice other than coming back to this world in human form to pay off the karmic debt that it earned in the previous life and not come back in any lower form of an animal or insect. An animal or insect does not do any karma and earn no karmic debt and, hence, has no karmic debt to be paid off. In addition to the above reason, there are other reasons which reinforce this belief that humans, at the minimum, in the next birth will come back as humans only. The birth of a human being is the highest phase of consciousness evolution and one progresses to a slightly higher closeness to God in each subsequent reincarnation and only that chance is offered to humans only. Furthermore, humans are the most conscious creatures in this universe and their consciousness is only short to God Himself. So next step in the evolution of consciousness in human being means approaching Godhead. That is the reason most wise men think that humans are good candidates to get Moksha in next birth if karma credits it. Being born as a human being is regarded as the most precious gift of evolution of consciousness. Human life alone offers the chance for liberation from the cycles of birth and death. But this belief is not shared by Gita. Gita states: a soul laden with heavy karmic debt can and will come back in a lower life (as an animal or an insect) form and not necessarily come back as another human being."

1.1 Birth of a Human Being

Birth of a human being is a miracle. Miracle is that the birth brings a new soul into the world from its home with God. A soul, which is the spark of the divine, brings God’s presence into flesh and blood. In Vedanta, the soul is not separate from God, and there is unity between human and divine.

A single fertilized cell in a mother’s womb can produce a completely new person. A drop of protein and water somehow knows how to shape itself into eyes, hands, skin, and a brain. Every moment, a million new brain cells are being produced, and within nine months and in a split second, life appears. Being born means arriving at another chance of life and arriving at a new level of insight and creativity. The process repeats itself over and over, each time progressing to a slightly higher closeness to God in each subsequent reincarnation. A higher closeness to God! Why? Because life continues after death and at every new birth, with rising consciousness.

1.2 Human Living State

The living state of a human body consists of five basic elements and five basic streams of vital force. The life cycle of the human being revolves with the help of these two, physical and mental bodies. If one dies, the other dies too. The structural complexity, functionality, and capability of different sense organs make a system that has been created in the material part of nature. The function of cells, tissues, neurons, biochemical in cell membranes, genetic regulations, secretion of hormones, the functioning of the internal organs, heart, liver, kidneys, give an impression as if the essence of all knowledge and power existing in nature has been perfectly used by almighty in the construction of a human body.

Supernatural Power in Human Beings: In normal course, the human body performs only routine tasks, which are essential for its survival. This natural instrument (human body) could be used to conduct supernatural activities also. Every human has this power, but it remains dormant and therefore not manifested in most people. In the core of the brain, creativity and level of consciousness of the brain is so high that one could consider it as the core of the very existence of a divine human being. By intense practices of control over the deeper religions of the brain pertaining to the subconscious and unconscious mind, one might attain the power of reading others’ minds or sending messages through thought waves (telepathy) without any external mode of communication.

God made humans and gave them the highest level of consciousness. Humans are the most conscious being more than any other creature in the universe. God has given us freedom to create our own lives as we wish to be. This body of ours is a temple, God’s temple, made by God, for Himself, because He lives in it in the shape of our souls.

1.3 Source of Human Soul

Every human being has a soul. Your soul in your chest is not a passive entity, but a positive purposeful force at the core of your being. If you desire to know your soul, the first step is to recognize that there is one and then recognize what is your relationship with your soul.

After the human soul, who else has a soul? It is God alone. Nobody else has an individual soul. (Not addressing animal kingdom, vegetable kingdom, and mineral kingdom yet.)

All living beings are but forms of the Lord. Soul is potentially Divine. If so, then what is the difference between the supreme soul and the human soul? There is absolutely no difference between our soul and supreme soul as our soul has come from the supreme soul itself. Supreme soul is the source of the human soul. All souls come from the supreme soul.

This belief is shared by all our Hindu epics, sages and saints, and philosophers of the world, both in east and west part, in past and present, and that includes big name philosophers like Gary Zukav, Deepak Chopra, Wayne Dyer, Aldous Huxley, Eckhart Tolle, that human souls came from the supreme soul, i.e., supreme soul is the source of human souls. In fact, Brahman and soul are non-dual. They belong to the same class, and that is consciousness. The nature of Brahman is pure consciousness. Man is divine. But he is not aware of its divinity. He thinks he is this little body. But he is not this body, space, and beyond body and beyond the universe. Divinity is beyond words and concepts.

All souls come from Godhead and are formed individually. This is best illustrated by an example. Consider that the ocean is God. It has always been there. Now reach in it and grab a cup of water. In that instance, that cup becomes an individual. That cup (individual soul) was always there, a part of the ocean (supreme soul), but now, this cup (individual soul) has become a cup of energy, a part of the immortal original being.

Consider that cup (that soul) which has been separated from the ocean, it goes into different forms. It can evaporate and become a part of another energy system (clouds) which transforms itself in rain droplets, and through mother earth, became a part of an organic system and then a part of the human/animal system through its food chain and finally may end up through discretion a part of the mass of water flowing back into the ocean. So for that cup (droplet) which got separated from the ocean (God) and within a certain time reaches back to that ocean (God), completing its life cycle and so does our souls.

1.4 Relation of Human Soul to Supreme Soul

First step in the process is that you recognize soul that there is one and then find out the relationship with yours and the supreme soul. Having known that the soul exists, let us check the similarities and differences.

Similarities: First of all, Hindu epics, Sages and Saints, and philosophers of the world, in East and West, past and present, including big names like Gary Zukav, Deepak Chopra, Wayne Dyer, Aldous Huxley, Eckhart Tolle state that the human souls came from the supreme soul, Supreme soul is the source of human soul. In other words, it is father / son; Mother / daughter; bee and queen bee relationship. Metaphorically speaking, it can be stated that Human Genes and Human DNA are the same as that of God. If God is the sea of water, then humans are the drops of water. The Chemistry in both cases is the same.

As Sufi wrote: I searched for God and found only myself. I searched for myself and found only God. He wrote so after searching himself in himself and found his soul no different from that of the supreme soul. His soul has the same characteristics as the supreme soul. So there was no difference between his soul and supreme soul. If that was the case, then he was a part of God, whom he was searching for. That concluded for him that he found Him in himself as His creation. As all souls come from the supreme soul and his was one of them. If he was Him (God) and He (God) was he and there was no difference between him and Him with capital H.

All souls come from Godhead: This is best illustrated by an example. Consider that the ocean is God. It has always been there. Now reach in it and grab a cup of water. In that instance, that cup becomes an individual. That cup (individual soul) was always there, a part of the ocean (supreme soul), but now this cup (individual soul) has become a cup of energy, a part of the immortal original being.

Stating it again, as Deepak Chopra writes, A drop of water from the sea becomes a vapor then clouds, and from clouds rain falls to earth, forming a river and finally merging into the sea. Does the drop of water die along the way? No! It undergoes a new expression at each stage, changing its form.

Additionally Gita states:

God has the soul (supreme) and so do humans. Human’s soul is eternal, indestructible, immutable, and is Sat (Truth). The supreme soul is eternal, indestructible, immutable, and sat.

Human soul is neither born nor dies at any time and so is the supreme soul.

Human souls cannot be destroyed by any worldly elements like fire, water, or wind and so is that of God.

Human soul does not come into being or cease to exist and so does His.

Human soul does not slay nor is slain and so is that of God.

Furthermore, God has made humans in His own image and in His own liking. We both look alike. If everything is the same and then why are we here and He is up there (in heaven)? We are roaming around with our bodies on this earth and He does not care to have one.

Human beings are essentially souls. And the soul’s nature is love, goodness, beauty, knowledge, accommodation, and immortality.

Differences: One difference is the soul knows only this body, but the supreme soul knows all the bodies. The main difference is that human soul is laden with, what is called karmic load, obligation, debt, and His is not. Why no karmic debt with the supreme soul? Because He does not have a body (a personality) which does karma. The personality is an energy tool that the soul adopts to function within the physical world.

You need a body (a personality) to perform action (karma). It is the karmic debt, karmic obligation, karmic burden that gets attached to the human soul, which makes the soul to reincarnate again and again to pay off that karmic debt in order to heal.

1.5 Evolution of a Human Being

Evolution means the progressive development of consciousness. It is believed in the