Bible concept:
Even though our Bible uses the words soul and spirit
interchangeably, there is a very distinct difference that we cannot ignore.
These passages in God's Word that make a very clear distinction between the
soul and the spirit:
Hebrews 4:12, "For the word of God is quick,
and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the
dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a
discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart."
1 Thessalonians 5:23, "And the very God of
peace sanctify you wholly; and I pray God your whole spirit and soul and body
be preserved blameless unto the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ."
So what is the difference between the soul and the
spirit according to the Old Testament?
We are a spirit being, we live in a body and we
possess a soul. The real person inside of us is our spirit. Our soul consists
of our mind, will and emotions. Our bodies are obviously what we live in while
we are here on earth. How did demonic spirits vex and possess (control) people
in the Bible? It was through their souls (minds, as in mental illness and
insanity), and their bodies (as in the woman who had the spirit of infirmity).
Yoga
Souls are the radiating rays of Spirit. They are
coexistent with Spirit and of the same essence, as the sun and its rays are
one. The incarnate soul belongs to the spirit region, which changes not. All
material forms belong to the regions of phenomena; their very nature being
alienated from Spirit, they change constantly. Phenomena arise from and are
inseparably linked with spirit. The outer surface of the soul's consciousness is
veiled with the ego, mind, and senses undergoes the permutations of Nature, but
the soul's essence remains in tact. (God Talks With Arjuna: The Bhagavad Gita
by Paramahansa Yogananda p.211)
Further yoga definitions:
Spirit signifies the Unmanifest Absolute Void of
even the slightest ripple of thought or vibratory activity to manifest
creation. Space, time and dimension does not exist in Spirit. Yet within Spirit
abides Existence, Consciousness and Bliss.
God implies the transcendental Creator, beyond
creation, but exists in manifestation that evolves from Him.
When creation is dissolved into its creator, then
God dissolves back into its creator, then God becomes Spirit, the unmanifest
Absolute.
When Spirit becomes God the Creator, His
transcendence is reflected as the guiding Universal intelligence.
Thus God is Divine intelligence manifesting
creation.
Spirit is Divine intelligence with creation
dissolved in it.
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