Does a living human body have ‘atma’/’parmatma’/Primal soul within it? The answer obviously is, YES. Gurbani says it is only the ‘Parmatam Jyot(i)’/’atma’/‘Primal Soul’ that has all the power and ability to do something, i.e., ‘Karan Kravanhar’ ohi hai (ref.: SGGS p. 868, line 12 “Acharj katha maha anoop…”). If so, why are we so different individually, some almost like the Primal Soul, some in between, and some the complete opposite and disbelievers in Primal Soul. Why our innate natures or ‘Subhaao’ so different and our actions in this empirical world so varied?
How does ‘Parmatam Jyot(i)’/’atma’/‘Primal Soul’ differ from ‘Jivatma’ or are the two synonymous? Or is it that our ‘Jivatma’ or ‘Mum’/consciousness too has some of that ability and is responsible for all our uniquely different actions? Gurbani says, ‘Mun tu jyot(i) saroop hai…’, i.e., ‘Mun’, you have your origin within the Primal Soul-but are not a perfect copy as yet-and it is our (‘Mun’s’) aim/objective in this life to become a perfect copy of the Primal Soul. A shabad in Gurbani (ref.: SGGS, p. 871, line 2 “Na ih(u) manas(u) nw ih(u) deu…”) also alludes to something it refers to as “Ram kia ns(u)”. Does it refer to ‘atma’/Primal Soul or ‘Jivatma’ or what?
Is it correct that it is the Creator that makes/creates our ‘Jivatma’/’Mun’/consciousness right from our birth/origin in this life? If this is so, why does the Creator create such diverse and imperfect ‘Jivatmas’/’Muns’ when it is supposed to be ‘Nirvair’? Or is it that our ‘Jivatma’/‘Mun’/consciousness comes into being later and we are responsible for its ‘being’ or creation? And, if this is right, are we saying that we can create something that is non-physical that our “mun’ is? Wow, how amazing!!
Basically, I find no satisfactory answers to the above questions ANYWHERE from the Sikhi standpoint.
I sincerely hope you will provide at least some views.
Kind regards.
Kamaljit
Our mind is located in our head (brain) and commands all activities we do outside and inside of our body. We have nine doors in our body and the tenth is our mind which is hidden.
The Primal life force is Parmatma we call 1ਓ (Ecko) created everything in this universe and lives in the creation. On top of this we also have our own individual soul we call it Atma (conscience)
Parmatma is full of countless virtues such as truthfulness, divine love, humility, kindness, compassion, contentment etc, We need to realize these virtues and live life accordingly, When our mind indulges in vices such as lust, anger, greed, over attachment with materials, jealousy, enmity and ego, the virtues run away and vices take over. That’s why we have to be with God (virtues) all the times.
We have to merge our Atma with Parmatma for happy, joyful, charhdi kala and blissful life journey
Hirdai is a philosophical word but mind does everything,
Great answer
The answer to this question must be based on Gurbani. Significant point to understand is that Gurbani does not subscribe to so called SOULthat resides in the body, leaves body after death and get into cycle of reincarnation. Understanding this distinction makes easier to understand the concept of Atma. In Gurbani Atma , Jiwatma are used in the same context for Prabhu, Waheguru and Parm Atma. Atma in Gurbani is also called Jote,Universal life energy, essence of life . Parma Atma is Aad Sach that existed when nothing else was there. It was in the form of Nirgun, Formles and beyond human experience. Parma Atma manifested in Sargun form ,the universe as we see and experience today. We all have origin in Parm Atma. Sabh Mahe Jote Jote Hai Manifested form of Parm Atma in all of us is Divine Wisdom, Treasure Of Virtues, All Goodness. This is who we are, our real, authentic self right from the birth. Guru says true nature of every human being is basic goodness. As humans we grow up. under different environments and influences. We are what we have learned and stored in our consciousnessAs humans we have complete freedom to store hate or love, compassion or discrimination, be with Parm Atma or create our own identity, Ego. Orinally we are all pure gold that gets buried under dust of falsehood. This explains why there are murderers or saviours, good or bad, evil or goodness in the world. Cause of our pains and suffering is separation from Origin, Parm Atma.
My answer is very simple.
Scientifically there IS NO SOUL.
Every action and reaction in our body is controlled by millions of neurons in our brain through the extensive network of nervous system.
Devinder Singh Chahal
Agreed in toto with Prof Chahal’s reply.
Concept of “soul” or Atma has been in existence since the evolution of human specie. However, in recorded from, the earliest records of this concept are available in the papyrus writings.
The origin of this concept is based on a hypothesis that there is something (soul/आतमा) which remains in the body of the living beings, and which flies off at the moment of death …….. and would again enter some other newborn body !
That is the reason for ancient Egyptian for mummification of Pharoah’s bodies saved in the huge pyramids.
This hypothesis about SOUL itself is flawed and is baseless.