Advaita

अद्वैत
(Non-dualism)

We accept that we are in two parts - physical body and spiritual entity. The latter is generally referred to as the Soul.

In Hindu scriptures, the soul is called Jeevaatmaa, being part of super-soul Paramaatmaa. They go further and establish the two are one and same: not two separate entities. This is Advaita. Jeevaatmaa being part of Paramaatmaa does not mean the former is a separable part of the latter like a limb of the physical body. The former is integral with the latter. A wave is part of the sea - but a physical part. Whereas, wave is water, it was water before and will be water after. WAVE is water i.e. sea in essence ALL ALONG. Seas and oceans have many different names, but belong to one body of water. India is my land, but remains an integral part fo the world.

Discourses given to us by the religious Masters sometimes appear to be at odds with each other, perhaps even diametrically opposite at times. This is to be viewed with reference to the capacity of the questioner to comprehend and to imbibe. The aim of the Master, as advised by the Lord in the Geetaa, is to not do anything to unsettle the faith of the questioner.

Jeevaatmaa and Paramaatmaa are one and same. The concept that God is within you is a preliminary stage. God is both inside and outside you (the body). If you limit your self-image to the body, then the world is outside you. If you realize that you are God, the world is inside you, and the body is part of you. If you believe you are a body, you see everything. If you believe you are God, there are no eyes to see anybody else. However, through divyadRuShTi or transcendental sight, you are aware of the whole world.

Is the soul in one part of the body, say, in the heart, or does it pervade the entire body? Is the soul of an ant small and that of an elephant huge? Strength may go with size but intellect which goes with spirit (soul) and it is more powerful. An old grandmother's story tells how an ant can bother an elephant. The fact that man rules the world also confirms that intellect is more powerful. Points otherwise.

Is a part of the soul cut off, say, when a limb is amputated? A study of Poornamidam shows soul remains "full."

Your body contains many other live bodies within it. Each body inside your body is alive! Worms revel in our bowels. You may call a house your own, but a rat living in a hole in the house can also claim it as its own house. Just as the so-called "your body" contains all other bodies within, your soul covers all other souls of other bodies in your body.

A Jnaani is not the body you see. He has transcended it - cast it off like a snake sloughs off its skin. It makes no difference to a Jnaani whether you honour or dump his body. However, his body becomes a temple of God - an animated idol, with God radiating tremendous power from within. A Jnaani's body is not cremated, but buried and preserved. Tulasi plants are grown over the Jnaani's samaadhi, or an idol of Hanumaan is installed over it. Devotees who visit these samaadhis benefit for centuries. Now, petrol catches fire at the first spark. Coal takes longer to ignite. Wet wood requires many attempts to light up. We should try not to be wet wood when we get the privilege of visiting such samaadhis at places like Mantraalaya, TiruvaNNamalai or ShirDi.

In physics, we are taught that if a few gases are put in a vessel, each gas expands and occupies the full volume of the vessel. In the spiritual realm, the supersoul covers all souls of individuals as indeed all physical bodies are pervaded and permeated by ViraaTa PuruSha (Cosmic Person).

Finally, we come to Advaita. There is no individual soul. If your soul occupies the heart and the supersoul (God) also occupies the heart, as evey religion proclaims, then it cannot be said that God is within me. Thus, the soul as such has no individuality or indentity. Tat Twam Asi (That Thou Art).*

Note: THAT THOU ART.
That indicates something not here but is there, away from you. First find whom you are. When you know yourself you will know THAT as well because you are already THAT.