What does "soul" mean?

[Param Mastishk Pheeka]

As a scientist and teacher of science, I have trained myself to be skeptical, searching for repeatable, well-controlled experimental evidence of any concept or claim.  For this reason, metaphysical concepts - things that are not tangible or measurable in some way, that cannot be tested repeatedly in a controlled environment, and that cannot be used to make scientifically grounded hypotheses - are near-impossible for me to understand. 

 

One such concept is that of a "soul."  Growing up in a religious household, I simply accepted it without questioning.  We always talked about Aatma as if we all know what exactly it is - that it can be experienced and somehow transmitted from a deceased person to an unborn (or un-conceived?) person or animal.   

 

But, the more I questioned it, the less tangible it is for me.  What exactly is it?  How does one measure it? 

 

The reason for bringing it up today:  I was reading something from the American Association of Naturopathic Medical Colleges - their mission is to treat Mind, Body and Soul.  I can see how one can treat mind and body - they are physical constructs with measurable parameters - you know when they are not working correctly and can design interventions to get them back to normal.  In fact, when you really think about it, your mind is part of your body too; it is nothing but a result of the structure and physico-chemistry of your brain. 

 

But what is soul?  What do the naturopaths mean when they say they are treating your soul?  What controls it?  How do you know it needs treatment? How do you treat it?  And what happens if you don't?

 

Serious responses only please.  If you are tempted to make frivolous or snide comments, please start another thread.  Thanks!

 

 

[sandeep]

42 minutes ago, Param Mastishk Pheeka said:

But what is soul?  What do the naturopaths mean when they say they are treating your soul? 

You are conflating 2 separate questions.  Naturopaths may be snake oil salesmen, but that doesn't negate the possibility that the soul theory may be correct. I'll add my thoughts on the first, non-frivolous question, when I get a bit of time.

[MechEng]

Coronavirus ka sadma itna tagda ki log jaane atma ky cheez hai?

[Alam_dar]

10 hours ago, Param Mastishk Pheeka said:

As a scientist and teacher of science, I have trained myself to be skeptical, searching for repeatable, well-controlled experimental evidence of any concept or claim.  For this reason, metaphysical concepts - things that are not tangible or measurable in some way, that cannot be tested repeatedly in a controlled environment, and that cannot be used to make scientifically grounded hypotheses - are near-impossible for me to understand. 

 

One such concept is that of a "soul."  Growing up in a religious household, I simply accepted it without questioning.  We always talked about Aatma as if we all know what exactly it is - that it can be experienced and somehow transmitted from a deceased person to an unborn (or un-conceived?) person or animal.   

 

But, the more I questioned it, the less tangible it is for me.  What exactly is it?  How does one measure it? 

 

The reason for bringing it up today:  I was reading something from the American Association of Naturopathic Medical Colleges - their mission is to treat Mind, Body and Soul.  I can see how one can treat mind and body - they are physical constructs with measurable parameters - you know when they are not working correctly and can design interventions to get them back to normal.  In fact, when you really think about it, your mind is part of your body too; it is nothing but a result of the structure and physico-chemistry of your brain. 

 

But what is soul?  What do the naturopaths mean when they say they are treating your soul?  What controls it?  How do you know it needs treatment? How do you treat it?  And what happens if you don't?

 

Serious responses only please.  If you are tempted to make frivolous or snide comments, please start another thread.  Thanks!

Along with souls .... I am even unable to understand what "spiritualism" is? Some people link it to soul, some to meditation, some to mind. It seems there is no united definition of spiritualism. Muslim SUFIS and PEERS try to search it through Islamic ways, Hindus try to find spiritualism another way etc. For some the ability to contact with the dead souls is spiritualism. 

 

Due to my upbringing as a Muslim, I believed in souls, hell and heaven, punishment in the grave, ghosts, genies, evil souls, ...

 

After leaving religion, for the first time I questioned these concepts. And the results were clear that I don't believe in any of such thing any more. For the first time I have no fear of punishment in the grave or in the hell. I do fear the pain before the death, but I don't fear the death itself. For the first time I feel no fear in going to nearby graveyard, even in the night time alone. 

[Clarke]

That African American culture, music/food etc

[Clarke]

Oh wait, you mean the other thing. Ayurveda talks about dosha in similar terms, hard to measure I would think. Homeopathy is just out of this world. Unani is the one true system*

 

 

 

 

*just kidding

[coffee_rules]

Nasadiya sukta of Rigveda, questions the idea of a super aatma (parmaatma) and doubts if he or she even knows about creation. This was the basis for alternate theories of spirituality like Charvakas, Buddhism and Jainism.

 

Atma or Atman is eternal, which is passed to different physical form, the theory is used to respect each other (including animals and plants) as we are all same coming from universe and might have been related at some point. 
 

Scientists of mind sciences are researching consciousness as a field of science. They are trying to understand consciousness through traditional  practitioners of yoga, meditation, vipassana. Some say that the Nobel prize in next decade or so will be from this area of science. The quest of who we are and what causes life and death of a cell. As science theorizes that we cannot create new energy.

 

Subhash Kak (a man of science) explains it better 

 

https://www.hindustantimes.com/more-lifestyle/computers-yoga-and-the-science-of-consciousness-a-conversation-with-subhash-kak/story-lzxOTUzqAg9gZaGvIjU9rJ.html

 

Edited March 29, 2020 by coffee_rules