What is the soul?

DVD 2.1 (46:21)

न जायते म्रियते वा कदाचि–

न्नायं भूत्वा भविता वा न भूयः  ।

अजो नित्यः शाश्वतोऽयं पुराणो

न हन्यते हन्यमाने शरीरे  ॥२१॥

na jāyate mriyate vā kadācin-

nāyaṁ bhūtvā bhavitā vā na bhūyaḥ /

ajo nityaḥ śāśvato’yaṁ purāṇo

na hanyate hanyamāne śarīre //21//

[Lord Kṛṣṇa]: This soul, which has come into the body as an incarnation (in each and every body there is an incarnation of the soul), he has come into this body as an avatār does, but it is a misfortune for that person who does not understand this. It is a misfortune for that person who does not understand that “I am an incarnation. I have come [in this body] to elevate this whole universe.” Being the elevator, He wants to make others get themselves elevated.

Do you understand?

No. For instance, I have come into this body. Actually, whoever has come into this body, he wants to make you understand that you are Parabhairava*, you are one with Bhairava. There is nothing less than Bhairava [existing] in you also–in anybody! In a feeble person also, he is also Parabhairava. He has come into this body to elevate the whole universe.

This you cannot understand very easily.

This is the cream of Shaivism!

(source: Abhinavagupta’s Bhagavad Gita, In the Light of Kashmir Shaivism revealed by Swami Lakshmanjoo (available as on demand video and books with free audio separately).

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