Body and Soul

Body and Soul

1. Atman(spirit)

   • To Hindu's the word Atman is like a soul. It lives within you, every living thing, whether it be a human, plant or animal, has an Atman
   • A way of explaining this is like a car. Every car has to have a driver, otherwise it doesn't work. This is like every living thing has to have an Atman otherwise it doesn't work. When driving a car, if it gets hit you say "you hit me" not you hit the car, so this explains you Atman is within you
   • "As one abandons worn-out clothes and acquires new ones, so when the body is worn out a new one is acquired by the self, who lives within" [Bhagavad Gita 2:34]
   • "The Self cannot be pierced or burned, made wet or dry. It is everlasting and infinite, standing on the motionless foundations of eternity"[Bhagavad Gita 2:24]
   • • Atman is used to describe the true self. • There is no difference between the atman in a plant, animal or human. • The atman never dies. • Brahman exists in all things and the atman is part of him.
   • It is this that get reincarnated, that gets moved on or transmigrated to another person.

2. Hindus believe that there is an afterlife but in most cases this means the soul being reborn into a new body.

3. • Jiva: this word means the embodied soul, which is made up of ‘layers’ which include the physical body, the breath body, the mental body, the intelligence body. Jiva gives the idea of a ‘living being’

4. Dharma

   • Roughly translated as "religious duty"
   • • In practical terms, dharma refers to leading a righteous life in harmony with natural laws as defined in scripture
   • There are two principle dharmas, namely sanatana-dharma and varnashrama-dharma.
     • Sanatana-dharma refers to the soul's never- ending propensity to serve God. The concept of sanatana-dharma underpins the Hindus' more inclusive approach towards life and "other religions." It is the basis for issues of equality, and tends to relate to overtly spiritual matters (e.g. worship).
     • Varnashrama-dharma defines duties for the individual, classified according to four divisions of labour and four stages in life. These specific duties change, for example as one passes through the different ashrams.
   • Ashram means "a place of spiritual shelter." Each stage of life is not only a natural part of the journey from cradle to grave, but a time at which spirituality can be developed’ • Student life (Brahmachari) • Household life (Grihasta) • Retired life (Vanaprashta) • Renounced life (Sannyasa)
     • Student life: Be celibate, Study the Vedas, Develop cleanliness, Serve the guru (Religious teacher)
     • Household life: Make money according to right ethics, Teach children, Protect family members, Give to charity, Marry ,enjoy sex, Observe religious rituals
     • Retired life: Go on pilgrimage, Devote more time to spiritual matters,
     • Renounced life: Preach to householders, Fully control mind and senses, Be dependant on God