From Sri Swami Sivananda's book, MAY I ANSWER THAT?.
Give me a very simple, but very impressive proof for the existence of the soul.
You say in daily life, "My body", "My Prana (energy)", "My mind", "My Indriya (senses)". This clearly denotes that the Self or Atman is entirely different from the body, the mind, the Prana and the Indriyas. The mind and the body are your servants or instruments. They are as much outside of you as these towels, chairs, cups are. You are holding the body just as you are holding a long walking stick in your hand. You are the possessor or proprietor of this body. The body is your property or possession. The body, the senses, the mind, the, etc., are not the soul, but belong to it.
If God is beyond the reach of the senses, He should be a non-entity, a mere void, a negative concept, a metaphysical abstraction. Something beyond the senses ? How could this be ? I cannot believe such things. I am a scientist. I want accurate laboratory proofs.
You want laboratory proofs ? Very fine indeed ! You wish to limit the illimitable all-pervading God in your test-tube, blowpipe and chemicals. God is the source for your chemicals. He is the substratum for your atoms, electrons and molecules. Without Him no atom or electron will move. He is the Inner Ruler (Antaryamin). He is the Niyanta. Without Him the fire cannot burn, the sun cannot shine, the air cannot move. Without Him you cannot see, cannot talk, cannot hear, cannot think. He is the maker of all scientific laws, the law of gravitation, the law of cohesion, the law of attraction and repulsion, etc. He is the law-giver. Bow to Him with faith and devotion. You will have a thorough knowledge of the Science of sciences, Brahma Vidya (the science of the Self), through His grace and you will attain Moksha (liberation).
What is the need to attain Moksha (liberation), Swamiji ?
To understand this, you should resort to Satsang (association with the wise) and study of scriptures. An intellect that is clouded by all sorts of desires and evil Samskaras (impressions) will not be able to grasp even the need for Moksha. Such an intellect is Asuric (devilish). Read the Gita. Attend Satsang. Listen to the discourses of saints and Sannyasins (renunciates). Then Viveka (discrimination) will arise in you. You will understand that this world is full of pain and sorrow. The bungalow, the motor-car, the little position and the small salary that you are having now will not then satisfy you. Your aspirations will grow. You will want to liberate yourself.
What great labour goes into the preparation of the microscope lens ? After a lot of grinding only you are able to peep into the beyond. Similarly, after a lot of study and Satsang only will your intellect even think of the Beyond.
Can a man not lead a good, virtuous life, be charitable, truthful and noble, work for the welfare of the community and die a good man, without aspiring for anything beyond this life ?
If you lead a virtuous life and die, you will die as a good man, not as a saint. You will not attain Moksha (liberation).
You have hundreds of good men. But, how many saints have you got ? Even real aspirants are rare in the world now. Even in you category of "good men", there are grades. How many good men have you got of Gandhiji's type ?
What do your good men do ? They may be truthful and noble; they may be charitable and pious. But, even they will be selfish at the core. They will hoard wealth and look after their own wife and children. Will they feel that all children are theirs ? When they bring sweetmeats from the bazaar, will they give to other people's children first ? No, no. Because they have no knowledge of the truth that the One Self dwells in all beings. Unless this understanding of the Truth dawns on them, unless they meditate upon this Supreme Reality and strive to realize It, how can they develop renunciation and the true spirit of selfless service ?
To be a good man is no doubt a better ideal than to be merely a human animal, full of vicious qualities. But it is only a means to an end; it is only a step nearer the goal, not the end or the goal itself. The goal is Self-realization or Moksha. In order to achieve that, you must be good and do good; and you must do more - you must cultivate discrimination, dispassion and a correct attitude to life; you must meditate, do Japa (remembrance of the Lord's name) and Kirtan (singing devotional songs), study scriptures. Then, by the grace of God, you will attain the goal!
Give me a very simple, but very impressive proof for the existence of the soul.
You say in daily life, "My body", "My Prana (energy)", "My mind", "My Indriya (senses)". This clearly denotes that the Self or Atman is entirely different from the body, the mind, the Prana and the Indriyas. The mind and the body are your servants or instruments. They are as much outside of you as these towels, chairs, cups are. You are holding the body just as you are holding a long walking stick in your hand. You are the possessor or proprietor of this body. The body is your property or possession. The body, the senses, the mind, the, etc., are not the soul, but belong to it.
If God is beyond the reach of the senses, He should be a non-entity, a mere void, a negative concept, a metaphysical abstraction. Something beyond the senses ? How could this be ? I cannot believe such things. I am a scientist. I want accurate laboratory proofs.
You want laboratory proofs ? Very fine indeed ! You wish to limit the illimitable all-pervading God in your test-tube, blowpipe and chemicals. God is the source for your chemicals. He is the substratum for your atoms, electrons and molecules. Without Him no atom or electron will move. He is the Inner Ruler (Antaryamin). He is the Niyanta. Without Him the fire cannot burn, the sun cannot shine, the air cannot move. Without Him you cannot see, cannot talk, cannot hear, cannot think. He is the maker of all scientific laws, the law of gravitation, the law of cohesion, the law of attraction and repulsion, etc. He is the law-giver. Bow to Him with faith and devotion. You will have a thorough knowledge of the Science of sciences, Brahma Vidya (the science of the Self), through His grace and you will attain Moksha (liberation).
What is the need to attain Moksha (liberation), Swamiji ?
To understand this, you should resort to Satsang (association with the wise) and study of scriptures. An intellect that is clouded by all sorts of desires and evil Samskaras (impressions) will not be able to grasp even the need for Moksha. Such an intellect is Asuric (devilish). Read the Gita. Attend Satsang. Listen to the discourses of saints and Sannyasins (renunciates). Then Viveka (discrimination) will arise in you. You will understand that this world is full of pain and sorrow. The bungalow, the motor-car, the little position and the small salary that you are having now will not then satisfy you. Your aspirations will grow. You will want to liberate yourself.
What great labour goes into the preparation of the microscope lens ? After a lot of grinding only you are able to peep into the beyond. Similarly, after a lot of study and Satsang only will your intellect even think of the Beyond.
Can a man not lead a good, virtuous life, be charitable, truthful and noble, work for the welfare of the community and die a good man, without aspiring for anything beyond this life ?
If you lead a virtuous life and die, you will die as a good man, not as a saint. You will not attain Moksha (liberation).
You have hundreds of good men. But, how many saints have you got ? Even real aspirants are rare in the world now. Even in you category of "good men", there are grades. How many good men have you got of Gandhiji's type ?
What do your good men do ? They may be truthful and noble; they may be charitable and pious. But, even they will be selfish at the core. They will hoard wealth and look after their own wife and children. Will they feel that all children are theirs ? When they bring sweetmeats from the bazaar, will they give to other people's children first ? No, no. Because they have no knowledge of the truth that the One Self dwells in all beings. Unless this understanding of the Truth dawns on them, unless they meditate upon this Supreme Reality and strive to realize It, how can they develop renunciation and the true spirit of selfless service ?
To be a good man is no doubt a better ideal than to be merely a human animal, full of vicious qualities. But it is only a means to an end; it is only a step nearer the goal, not the end or the goal itself. The goal is Self-realization or Moksha. In order to achieve that, you must be good and do good; and you must do more - you must cultivate discrimination, dispassion and a correct attitude to life; you must meditate, do Japa (remembrance of the Lord's name) and Kirtan (singing devotional songs), study scriptures. Then, by the grace of God, you will attain the goal!
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