What is the divine nature of the soul according to the Gita?
In the Bhagavad Gita, the soul (Atman) is described as eternal, unchanging, and divine. It is not affected by physical changes or death. The essence of the soul reflects its divine nature which connects it to the Supreme Being, or Brahman.
The soul is eternal (Chapter 2, Verse 20): "For the soul, there is never birth nor death... It is unborn, eternal, ever-existing, and primeval."
The soul is beyond the physical body (Chapter 2, Verse 22): "Just as the body undergoes changes, and the soul transitions from one body to another, the soul remains untouched by these changes."
This divine nature signifies the soul's relationship with Brahman, as all souls are seen as part of the same divine source.
What is Brahman and why is it considered the ultimate reality?
Brahman, in the Bhagavad Gita, is referred to as the ultimate reality and the source of all existence. It is described as beyond comprehension and duality, embodying the essence of everything.
Brahman is the absolute reality (Chapter 13, Verse 12): "The supreme consciousness that pervades all existence."
Brahman is transcendental and immanent, meaning it is both beyond the material nature and present within it (Chapter 9, Verse 22): "To those who are constantly devoted and who worship Me with love, I give the understanding by which they can come to Me."
Brahman is called the ultimate reality because it is the cause of all causes, the unchanging truth behind the ephemeral material world.