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What is the soul? It is not the same as the Self (Atma).

A discourse on the nature of the soul, the self, and divine governance.

"That one has no form, no qualities, and no disqualities. But it is pure power."

"The soul is a kind of ball where all your karmas are concentrated... That is your identity."

The speaker explains a hierarchy of spiritual principles: the formless Parameśvara (supreme governor), Īśvara (solar system governor), the universal ātmā (self), and the individual Jīvātmā (soul). He distinguishes the immortal, universal self from the karma-laden, transmigrating individual soul, which carries one's identity through birth and death.

Recording location: Hungary, Szeged, Weekend seminar

What is the soul? The soul is not the self. That self is what we call ātmā. Now, there is what is called God, or the Holy Father, or Parameśvara, or Īśvara. Parameśvara is known as the governor of the endless universe. That is called Parameśvara, Param Īśvara. That one has no form, no qualities, and no disqualities. But it is pure power. You may call it the divine love, you may call it the ultimate truth, you may call it the light. Whatever you call it, it is said there are 2,100 different universes and 17 different worlds, all manifesting or reflecting in your body. Therefore, it is called Ananta Brahmāṇḍa. Śāstra Sūrya, thousands of Sūryas, suns. Then it is called Īśvara. Parameśvara, Īśvara. Īśvara means that power which is governing this sun system, as far as the light of our sun will go. So our solar system, or the sun system, is governed by one consciousness; that is called Īśvara. Then this body, it doesn't matter if it is a human body or an animal body, is governed by ātmā. So, Parameśvara, Īśvara, and ātmā. Or Paramātmā, ātmā. Ātmā is universal. My ātmā and your ātmā are the same ātmā. After that fourth one, Parameśvara, Īśvara, ātmā, then comes the fourth one, Jīvātmā. And Jīvātmā is the individual soul. It is that Jīvātmā which is coming and going. From the beginning, this Jīvātmā is fluttering on the waves of time through the endless universe, and time to time comes to this planet. This planet is especially declared as a mortal planet, Mṛtyuloka, the mortal world. Birth and death, manifestation and again dissolving, is on this planet. The soul is a kind of ball where all your karmas are concentrated, and there is your psyche, there are your individual feelings, there are your problems, there is your mind, there is your consciousness, there is your ambition, there are your desires, there is your ego, anger, jealousy, hate, complexes, greediness, what not, feeling of happiness, love, forgiveness, kindness, all is in this one phenomenon. That is your identity. My soul is my identity, and your soul is your identity. The soul is individual. It is the soul which goes to heaven or to hell. Therefore, it is said, ātmā is immortal, everlasting, will never die, and never born. Recording location: Hungary, Szeged, Weekend seminar

This text is transcribed and grammar corrected by AI. If in doubt, what was actually said in the recording, use the transcript to double click the desired cue. This will position the recording in most cases just before the sentence is uttered.

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