The Science of
Soul
Session 2
International Society for Krishna Consciousness Sydney
1 Founder Acharya: His Divine Grace A C Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada back ISKCON SYDNEY Confidential
What is Soul?
The spark of life force that activates every living
body
The soul is compared to a driver and the body to a
vehicle
The soul makes the body appear alive and when
the soul leaves the body, we say the person is
‘dead’
International Society for Krishna Consciousness Sydney
2 Founder Acharya: His Divine Grace A C Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada ISKCON SYDNEY Confidential
Scientific Proof of the
soul’s existence
International Society for Krishna Consciousness Sydney
3 Founder Acharya: His Divine Grace A C Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada ISKCON SYDNEY Confidential
Common Sense
When a person dies, we say “He has passed
away”.
Who has passed away? The body of the person
is still there.
The fact is that the source of life, the soul has
passed away from the body.
International Society for Krishna Consciousness Sydney
4 Founder Acharya: His Divine Grace A C Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada ISKCON SYDNEY Confidential
Intuitive Understanding
We know that the real self, the ‘I’ is distinct
from the body, mind and intelligence.
We speak of ‘my eyes’, ‘my hands’ etc., This
means these things belong to somebody, an
owner.
International Society for Krishna Consciousness Sydney
5 Founder Acharya: His Divine Grace A C Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada ISKCON SYDNEY Confidential
Consciousness
It is the symptom of the soul.
Just like the sun spreads heat and light all around, the soul spreads consciousness all
around the body, from the tip of the toes and fingers to the top of the head.
It is what distinguishes a dead body from a living one
It gives the proof of the soul
International Society for Krishna Consciousness Sydney
6 Founder Acharya: His Divine Grace A C Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada ISKCON SYDNEY Confidential
Near Death Experience (NDE)
Examples of findings show that the mind is
independent of the material body and brain.
Out-of-body experiences shows that the person is
able to observe and relate to things that are
happening to his body from a perspective outside
the body
International Society for Krishna Consciousness Sydney
7 Founder Acharya: His Divine Grace A C Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada ISKCON SYDNEY Confidential
Past life memories
Rigorous, unbiased researches have been carried
out on past lie memories.
By thorough investigation of the details of the things
described by the person, like the place and people
they were associated in their last life, we get
evidences of the conscious self that travels from one
physical body to the next
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8 Founder Acharya: His Divine Grace A C Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada ISKCON SYDNEY Confidential
Logical statement…
Although the above empirical evidences confirm a
conscious self present in the body, still speculative
approach has its own limitations. If one has to wait
for Science to provide complete understanding of the
nature of the soul, and its qualities, one may
probably have to wait a million years.
International Society for Krishna Consciousness Sydney
9 Founder Acharya: His Divine Grace A C Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada ISKCON SYDNEY Confidential
Scripturally…..
We can get clear information about
what is life and what is death from
the scriptures directly without any
mental speculation.
International Society for Krishna Consciousness Sydney
10 Founder Acharya: His Divine Grace A C Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada ISKCON SYDNEY Confidential
Quote
avinasi tu tad viddhi
yena sarvam idam tatam
vinasam avyayasyasya
na kascit kartum arhati
“That which pervades the entire body is
indestructible. No one can destroy the
imperishable soul.” [B.G.2.17]
International Society for Krishna Consciousness Sydney
11 Founder Acharya: His Divine Grace A C Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada ISKCON SYDNEY Confidential
Quote
bhumir apo nalo vayuh
kham mano budhir eva ca
ahankara itiyam me
bhinna prakrtir astadha
“Earth, water, fire, ether, air, mind, intelligence and false ego are My eight
separate inferior energies” [B.G.7.4]
The gross body is made up of the above mentioned 5 elements and it is called
as ‘Sthula sarira’.
International Society for Krishna Consciousness Sydney
12 Founder Acharya: His Divine Grace A C Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada ISKCON SYDNEY Confidential
What contains in the living body?
The mind, intelligence and false ego
constitute the Subtle Body. It is also called as
‘Sukshma sarira’.
True ego is to understand that ‘I am spirit
soul, eternal servant of Krsna’.
False ego is to think in illusion that ‘I am this
body’.
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13 Founder Acharya: His Divine Grace A C Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada ISKCON SYDNEY Confidential
Living body….Contd.
A conditioned soul is trapped in the
Gross and Subtle bodies.
One who is free from these
coverings attains the spiritual world
and is called a ‘Liberated Soul’.
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14 Founder Acharya: His Divine Grace A C Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada ISKCON SYDNEY Confidential
Srila Prabhupada is such
a liberated soul.
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15 Founder Acharya: His Divine Grace A C Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada ISKCON SYDNEY Confidential
Quote
Apareyam itas tv anyam
Prakrtim viddhi me param
Jiva bhutam maha baho
Yayedam dharyate jagat
“Besides this inferior nature, there is a superior
energy of Mine, that are all living entities who
are struggling with material nature and are
sustaining the universe.” [B.G.7.5]
International Society for Krishna Consciousness Sydney
16 Founder Acharya: His Divine Grace A C Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada ISKCON SYDNEY Confidential
Knowledge of the Soul
Both inferior energy (matter) and superior energy
(spirit soul) are subordinate to the Supreme Lord.
International Society for Krishna Consciousness Sydney
17 Founder Acharya: His Divine Grace A C Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada ISKCON SYDNEY Confidential
Knowledge of the Soul
The soul is Indestructible
The soul is an individual (B.G.2.12, B.G.15.7)
Soul has form:- sac-cid-ananda form
Spirit gives form to matter which is asat-acit-
nirananda
International Society for Krishna Consciousness Sydney
18 Founder Acharya: His Divine Grace A C Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada ISKCON SYDNEY Confidential
Knowledge of the Soul
Soul is eternal (B.G. 2.20)
Spirit and Matter is an incompatible
combination
Soul is situated in the region of the heart
Soul changes bodies
The size of the soul is 1/10,000 part of the
tip of the hair
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19 Founder Acharya: His Divine Grace A C Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada ISKCON SYDNEY Confidential
Am I God?
The Bhagavad Gita clearly states that you are not God.
Bhagavad Gita also unambiguously declares you
can never become God even after liberation.
International Society for Krishna Consciousness Sydney
20 Founder Acharya: His Divine Grace A C Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada ISKCON SYDNEY Confidential
Quote
Dvav imam purusam loke
Ksaras caksaras eva ca
Ksarah sarvani bhutani
Kutastho ksara ucyate
“There are two classes of beings, the fallible and the
infallible. In the material world every entity is
fallible and in the spiritual world every entity is
called infallible” [B.G.15.16]
International Society for Krishna Consciousness Sydney
21 Founder Acharya: His Divine Grace A C Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada ISKCON SYDNEY Confidential
Quote
uttamah purusastv anyah
Paramatmety udahrtah
Yo loka trayam avisya
Bibharty avyaya isvarah
“Besides these two, there is the greatest living
personality, the Lord Himself, who has entered into
these worlds and is maintaining them” [B.G.15.17]
International Society for Krishna Consciousness Sydney
22 Founder Acharya: His Divine Grace A C Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada ISKCON SYDNEY Confidential
Paramatma – Friend of Jivatma
Paramatma is the expansion of the Supreme Lord
who accompanies the individual soul (Jivatma)
who comes into this material world in order to
take him to different bodies and to take care of
him and escort him. He is situated within the
heart of every living entity and within every atom.
International Society for Krishna Consciousness Sydney
23 Founder Acharya: His Divine Grace A C Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada ISKCON SYDNEY Confidential
The Paramatma
International Society for Krishna Consciousness Sydney
24 Founder Acharya: His Divine Grace A C Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada ISKCON SYDNEY Confidential
Quote
Anor aniyan mahato mahiyan
Atmasya jantor nihito guhayam
Tam akratuh pasyati vita-soko
Dhatuh prasadan mahimanam atmanah
“Both the Supersoul and the atomic soul are situated on the same tree of the body within the
same heart of the living being and only one who has become free from all material desires as
well as lamentations can be by the grace of the Lord, understand the glories of Soul.” [Katha
1.2.20]
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25 Founder Acharya: His Divine Grace A C Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada ISKCON SYDNEY Confidential
Samane vrkse puruso nimagno
‘nisaya socati muhyamanah
Justam yada pasyaty anyam isam asya
Mahimanam iti vita-sokah
“Although the two birds (the Supersoul and the atomic soul are compared to two friendly
birds sitting on the same tree) are in the same tree, the eating bird is fully engrossed
with anxiety and moroseness as the enjoyer of the fruits of the tree. But if in some way
or other he turns his face to his friend who is the Lord – at once the suffering bird
becomes free from all anxieties” Svetasvatara Upanisad
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26 Founder Acharya: His Divine Grace A C Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada ISKCON SYDNEY Confidential
Differences between Krsna and the living entity
Krsna is Infinite but Living entity is Infinitesimal. ‘nityo nityanam
cetanas cetananam eko bahunam yo vidhadhati kaman’ – The
Supreme Personality of Godhead maintains the innumerable
living entities and gives them all the facility for enjoyment
according to different work.
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27 Founder Acharya: His Divine Grace A C Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada ISKCON SYDNEY Confidential
Differences between Krsna and the living entity
1. Living entities are one with the Supreme Lord only in quality not in quantity. This is
called ‘acintya-bheda-abheda tattva’ meaning ‘simultaneous oneness and difference’.
This is the philosophy of Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu.
2. The living entity is knower of his body, but Krsna is knower of all the bodies.
Krsna says, “I am also the knower, but I am not the individual owner of the body. I am the
super-knower. I am present in everybody as the Paramatma, or Supersoul.” [B.G. 13.2-3,
B.G.15.15]
3. The body is called ‘ksetra’ and the knower of the body is called ‘ksetrajna’.
Krsna knows what is going on in everyone’s body.
International Society for Krishna Consciousness Sydney
28 Founder Acharya: His Divine Grace A C Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada ISKCON SYDNEY Confidential
Differences between Krsna and the living entity
The living entity is the proprietor of his body, but Krsna is the
proprietor of all the bodies.
Krsna is the primary owner of the body and the soul stays in
this body for a period of time according to it’s ability of paying
price (Karma).
So the soul is the secondary proprietor in every body.
The Supreme Lord knows both the body and the owner of the
body.
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29 Founder Acharya: His Divine Grace A C Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada ISKCON SYDNEY Confidential
Differences between Krsna and the living entity
Living entity can be put to forgetfulness, but Krsna can
never be put to forgetfulness.
Krsna says to Arjuna, ‘Many, many births both you and I
have passed, I can remember all of them, but you
cannot.”[B.G.4.5]
A liberated person like Arjuna is also not equal to Lord.
Brahma Samhita describes the Lord as infallible (acyuta),
which means that He never forgets Himself.
International Society for Krishna Consciousness Sydney
30 Founder Acharya: His Divine Grace A C Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada ISKCON SYDNEY Confidential
Differences between Krsna and the living entity
Living entity has only direct awareness, but Krsna has both direct
and indirect awareness.
In Srimad Bhagavatam, Krsna is described as ‘svarat’, ‘Supremely
independent’. He does not depend on anything for power and
knowledge. He controls everything through the medium of His
energies. His potency is automatic and spontaneous.
We, the living entities are eternally a loving servitor of the
Supreme Lord, and God is eternally our loving master.
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31 Founder Acharya: His Divine Grace A C Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada ISKCON SYDNEY Confidential
Krsna, the father of all living entities.
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32 Founder Acharya: His Divine Grace A C Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada ISKCON SYDNEY Confidential
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