Category:Atomic Soul
Theme Analysis
In the Vedic literatures, such as the Muṇḍaka Upaniṣad and the Bhagavad-gītā, the individual living entity is described as the atomic soul (jīvātmā). Śrīla Prabhupāda explains that the soul is a spiritual atom, infinitesimal in size and factually smaller than the material atoms studied by physicists. Because this spiritual particle is entirely beyond the measuring capacity of mundane instruments, foolish material scientists conclude that the soul does not exist. However, the presence of the atomic soul is easily perceived by its symptom: consciousness, which spreads its influence all over the body. Śrīla Prabhupāda points out that this tiny spark is situated specifically within the heart of the living entity, floating within the five kinds of life airs (prāṇa, apāna, vyāna, samāna, and udāna).
Despite its microscopic size, the power of the atomic soul is staggering. Śrīla Prabhupāda marvels at how this tiny spark of spirit animates not only microscopic germs but also gigantic bodies like those of elephants and massive banyan trees. Furthermore, it is the intelligence of this atomic soul that allows human beings to construct huge cities, bridges, and advanced civilizations. Yet, despite this power, the atomic soul must never be confused with the Supreme Soul (Paramātmā). Śrīla Prabhupāda strictly refutes the Māyāvādī impersonalists, explaining that while both the atomic soul and the Supersoul sit in the same heart—like two birds in a tree—they are eternally distinct. The atomic soul is the infinitesimal enjoyer, and the Supreme Soul is the infinite observer and maintainer.
Due to its infinitesimal size, the atomic soul is eternally prone to being covered by material illusion. Śrīla Prabhupāda explains that when the atomic soul forgets its loving relationship with the Supreme Lord, it becomes entangled in the material world, transmigrating from one body to another by the arrangement of the Supersoul. However, if the atomic soul awakens to Kṛṣṇa consciousness, it can escape this entanglement. While some liberated souls choose to merge into the effulgent rays of the Lord (the brahmajyoti), Śrīla Prabhupāda emphasizes that the most intelligent atomic souls choose to enter the spiritual planets to eternally associate with the Supreme Personality of Godhead in active devotional service.
- Immeasurable Minuteness: The atomic soul is smaller than a material atom. Because it cannot be perceived by empirical instruments, materialistic scientists falsely deny its existence.
- Location and Symptom: The soul sits in the heart, floating in the five life airs, and proves its existence by spreading the energy of consciousness throughout the entire body.
- Astounding Spiritual Power: Despite being infinitesimal, the atomic soul has the spiritual strength to animate massive biological bodies and engineer complex material civilizations.
- Distinct from the Supreme: The atomic soul (jīvātmā) and the Supersoul (Paramātmā) sit together in the heart, but the soul remains eternally infinitesimal while the Lord remains eternally infinite.
- The Path of Transmigration: Forgetfulness of Kṛṣṇa causes the atomic soul to change bodies, while pure devotional service allows it to return to the spiritual planets.
- Explore the synthesized essence of this category in this Vanipedia article: Atomic Soul - The Infinitesimal Spark of Spirit.
Pages in category "Atomic Soul"
The following 39 pages are in this category, out of 39 total.
A
- After liberation from material contamination, the atomic soul may prefer to remain as a spiritual spark in the effulgent rays of the SP of Godhead, but the intelligent souls enter into the spiritual planets to associate with the PG. BG 1972 purports
- All the living entities are part of Me
- All these individuals (the atomic souls) are working in the material world for sense gratification, and under the spell of material energy they are thinking of being enjoyers. BG 1972 purports
- All these qualifications of the atomic soul (everlasting, all-pervading, unchangeable, immovable and eternally the same) definitely prove that the individual soul is eternally the atomic particle of the spirit whole. BG 1972 purports
- As eternally unchangeable, the soul remains atomic in comparison to the infinite Supreme Soul
- Atomic particles of the spirit whole are compared to the sunshine molecules. BG 1972 purports
- Atomic soul is beyond the power of appreciation
B
- Because the measurement of the atomic soul is beyond the power of appreciation of the material scientists, some of them assert foolishly that there is no soul. BG 1972 purports
- Because they are atomic individual souls (sanatana) eternally, they are prone to be covered by the illusory energy, and thus they become separated from the association of the Supreme Lord. BG 1972 purports
- Both the Supersoul (Paramatma) and the atomic soul (jivatma) are situated on the same tree of the body within the same heart of the living being (Katha Upanisad 1.2.20). BG 1972 purports
C
I
- In the sunshine there are innumerable radiant molecules. Similarly, the fragmental parts of the Supreme Lord are atomic sparks of the rays of the Supreme Lord, called by the name prabha or superior energy. BG 1972 purports
- It is very difficult to find a man who perfectly understands the position of the soul, the Supersoul, the atomic soul, their respective functions, relationships and all other major and minor details. BG 1972 purports
O
- Of course, we cannot divide the tip of a hair into such fine particles, but spiritually such small particles can exist. Spiritual strength is so powerful that a mere atomic portion of spirit can be the biggest brain in the material world
- One of the birds (the individual atomic soul) is eating the fruit of the tree, and the other bird (Krsna) is simply watching His friend. BG 1972 purports
S
- So the constitution of the atomic soul is admitted in all Vedic literatures, and it is also actually felt in the practical experience of any sane man. Only the insane man can think of this atomic soul as all-pervading visnu-tattva
- Some people who are inclined to hear about the soul may be attending lectures, in good association, but sometimes, owing to ignorance, they are misguided by acceptance of the Supersoul & the atomic soul as one without distinction of magnitude. BG 1972 p
T
- The atomic living entities are existent in the Brahmajyoti and the Brahmajyoti is distributed everywhere, so the living entities are also spread everywhere. Their another name is "sarvaga," all-pervading
- The atomic soul is floating in the five kinds of air (prana, apana, vyana, samana and udana), is situated within the heart, and spreads its influence all over the body of the embodied living entities (Mund 3.1.9). BG 1972 purports
- The atomic soul, although so small, is moving the entire body to act in so many wonderful ways. In the world we see so many cities, highways, bridges, great buildings, monuments, and great civilizations, but who has done all this
- The constitution of the atomic soul is admitted in all Vedic literatures, and it is also actually felt in the practical experience of any sane man. Only the insane man can think of this atomic soul as all-pervading Visnu-tattva. BG 1972 purports
- The description in the Vedas indicates that the Lord glanced over the prakrti, or nature, and impregnated it with atomic individuals souls. BG 1972 purports
- The fact that the atomic soul is within the body of a gigantic animal, in the body of a gigantic banyan tree, and also in the microbic germs, millions and billions of which occupy only an inch of space, is certainly very amazing. BG 1972 purports
- The individual atomic soul is definitely there in the heart along with the Supersoul, and thus all the energies of bodily movement are emanating from this part of the body. BG 1972 purports
- The individual particle of spirit soul is a spiritual atom smaller than the material atoms, and such atoms are innumerable. BG 1972 purports
- The influence of the atomic soul can be spread all over a particular body. According to the Mundaka Upanisad, this atomic soul is situated in the heart of every living entity. BG 1972 purports
- The living entity in his original position is pure spirit. He is just like an atomic particle of the Supreme Spirit. BG 1972 purports
- The soul is atomic in size and can be perceived by perfect intelligence (Mund 3.1.9). BG 1972 purports
- This atomic soul is floating in the five kinds of air (prana, apana, vyana, samana and udana), is situated within the heart, and spreads its influence all over the body of the embodied living entities
- This atomic soul is situated in the heart of every living entity, and because the measurement of the atomic soul is beyond the power of appreciation of the material scientists, some of them assert foolishly that there is no soul
- Transference of the atomic individual soul to another body is made possible by the grace of the Supersoul.The Supersoul fulfills the desire of the atomic soul as one friend fulfills the desire of another. BG 1972 purports
U
- Unlike the bodily changes, there is no change in the soul. As eternally unchangeable, the soul remains atomic in comparison to the infinite Supreme Soul. The Supreme Soul is infinite, and the atomic soul is infinitesimal
- Unlike the bodily changes, there is no change in the soul. As eternally unchangeable, the soul remains atomic in comparison to the infinite Supreme Soul. The Supreme Soul is infinite, and the atomic soul is infinitesimal. BG 1972 purports