The concept of the soul is richly described in the text of nearly every culture, present and past. Poets write of this mystical presence, the philosophical debate and discuss it. Does the soul exist, and if so is there any way to measure it?
In ancient texts the translation of spirit is breath. Reading back though many of the passages, this one change in translation can give new meaning those ancient teachings.
There is a practice is the shamanic world called soul retrieval. It is believed that in trauma the soul, or a portion of the soul, can become detached from the physical presence, perhaps as a means to protect the delicate being. This separation can lead to a feeling of detachment, sadness, and loss.
People of all walks of life turn to exploration of the soul, seeking enlightenment and evidence of a presence beyond the time bound physical. Is this focus to acquire spiritual knowledge, or to restore a part of their being that many cultures ignore?
“The soul is thyself; for thou knoest that which is different from soul and is perishable. But what is the soul? asked the king. The sage answered: He who dwells in the body, who heeds the body, and at whose departing the body suffers whilst he does not suffer, for uncertainty (such as the bodys) is not his – that is the soul. He delights in his beauty, he is immortal, fearless, and himself Creator. (Passage from The Penny Cyclopaedia of the Society for the Diffusion of Useful Knowledge, pg 176).
The soul speaks loudly within the silence. We can turn within and bring focus to our own being. Immeasurable yes, but nothing in this world can deny us the presence of the soul.
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