“For the soul there is neither birth nor death at any time. He has not come into being, does not come into being, and will not come into being. He is unborn, eternal, ever-existing and primeval. He is not slain when the body is slain.” BG 2.20

The ABC of Bhagavad-Gita

The first and most fundamental knowledge that a disciple learns from guru is, “You are not the body; you are a spirit soul.”

What is the Soul

“Never was there a time when I did not exist, nor your, nor all these kings; nor in the future shall any of us cease to be.” (BG 2.12)

The Difference Between Body and Soul

• “As the embodied soul continuously passes, in this body, from boyhood to youth to old age, the soul similarly passes into another body at death. A self-realized soul is not bewildered by such a change.” (BG 2.13)

Consciousness: Symptom of the Soul

• “That which pervades the whole body you should know to be indestructible. No one is able to destroy the imperishable soul.” (BG 2.17)

Soul Changes Habitats

“As a person puts on new garments, giving up old ones, the soul similarly accepts new material bodies, giving up the old and useless ones.” (BG 2.22)

Compassion Should be Aimed at Soul

“The seers of the truth have concluded that of the non-existent [material body] there is no endurance and of the eternal [the soul] there is no change. This they have Concluded by studying the nature of both.” (BG 2.16)

• O descendent of Bharata, he who dwells in the body can never be slain. Therefore, you need not grieve for any being.” (BG 2.30)

Knowing the Needs of the Soul

“Material compassion, lamentation and tears are all signs of ignorance of the real self. Compassion for the eternal soul is self-realization. Compassion for the dress of a drowning man is senseless. A man fallen in the ocean of nescience cannot be saved simply by rescuing his outward dress--the gross material body.”

One cannot satisfy the bird simply by cleaning cage of the bird. One must feed the bird. Similarly, one cannot satisfy the soul simply by satisfying the body.

Practical Benefits of the Science of Soul

• Acquiring divine assets and freedom From demoniac nature

• Freedom from lamentation, fear, and illusion

• Universal brotherhood

• Positive outlook and attitude to life

• Art and Science of Mantra Meditation

• Right use of resources

Acquiring Divine AssetsTo live a life with the consciousness, “I am not this material body; I am pure spirit soul” directs one to cultivate divine qualities such as humility, pridelessness, devotion to God, non-violence, cleanliness, forbearance, detachment from material objects and material conceptions, etc.

Freedom from Demoniac Nature

People who think that everything is finished at death try to selfishly accumulate as much as they can without caring for other.

“The demonic conclude that the world is phantasmagoria. There is no cause and effect, no controller, no purpose: everything is unreal. They say that this cosmic manifestation arises due to chance material actions and reactions. They do not think that the world was created by God for a certain purpose. They have their own theory: that the world has come about in its own way and that there is no reason to believe that there is a God behind it. For them there is no difference between spirit and matter, and they do not accept the Supreme Spirit.” BG 16.8 prpt

“The materialists, who have no concept of God, think that they are advancing…They try to enjoy this material world to the utmost limit and therefore always engage in inventing something for sense gratification. Such materialistic inventions are considered to be advancement of human civilization, but the result is that people grow more and more violent and more and more cruel, cruel to animals and cruel to other human beings. They have no idea how to behave toward one another.” BG 16.9 prpt

“Such people are considered the enemies of the world because ultimately they will invent or create something which will bring destruction to all. Indirectly, this verse anticipates the invention of nuclear weapons, of which the whole world is today very proud. At any moment war may take place, and these atomic weapons may create havoc. Such things are created solely for the destruction of the world, and this is indicated here. Due to godlessness, such weapons are invented in human society; they are not meant for the peace and prosperity of the world.” BG 16.9 prpt

Freedom from Lamentation, Fear, Illusion

• One laments when something dear to one is taken away.

• One is fearful because due to worrying about the future.

• Illusion keeps one in anxiety because of absorption in dualities.

Universal Brotherhood

“The humble sages, by virtue of true knowledge, see with equal vision a learned and gentle brahmana, a cow, an elephant, a dog and a dog-eater [outcaste].” BG 5.18

“Unless you come to the platform of brahma bhüta [SB 4.30.20] consciousness, you cannot treat everyone on the same level. It is not possible. The so-called universal brotherhood is not possible on this material condition of life. Therefore you can see that materially there are so many attempts to find out a platform of universal brotherhood. But there is no universal brotherhood. There is simply platform of enemy. The United Nation is trying to come to the platform of universal brotherhood. When I go to New York, I see the great institution. There are hundreds and thousands of flags. Instead of being united, the flags are increasing, because this universal brotherhood, this equality, fraternity, cannot be established on this material platform. It is not possible. You have to come to the point, to the platform of Krishna consciousness, or brahma bhüta stage, then it is possible.”-lecture Bombay

• Quarrels takes place due to bodily conception of life; what is the question of universal brotherhood.

Positive Outlook and Attitude to Life

Understanding the knowledge of the soul changes man’s outlook and attitudes, and helps one act correctly while facing different situation in life.

The attitude, transformation, and spiritual upliftment that one gains by the knowledge of the soul proves that there is potentiality of goodness in every being and it can be awaken by loving service to God and removal of the enjoying mentality.

Art and Science of Mantra Meditation• The mind is a

storehouse of varieties of plans and desires for enjoyment. The mind keeps accepting and rejecting various desires and this causes the individual to suffer from stress, tension, depression, inferiority complex, etc.

Mantra meditation is done with the understanding that as tiny souls we are helpless; God being the Supreme Father of the living being is eager to help us. Chanting is a loud call from the core of the heart to the Supreme Lord to kindly elevate us from the suffering situation and be placed in his loving company. Thus the understanding of the soul offers one complete protection from all dangers and worries of the world. One can simply hand over the charge of one’s life to God by such focused meditation of the Holy names of God.

Right Use of Resources

When people are conscious of the soul, they are aware that the material body is temporary, and that the material world is a temporary place of suffering, designed by God to reform and purify us and prepare us for return to the spiritual world. Thus, they live a life socially, politically, culturally, and economically centered around God.