What Is The Soul…(continued from the previous seven weeks) Q: Dr. Guterson, you talk alot about the soul. Maybe you can help me understand what the soul is? A: Everything in existence has a soul - humans, animals, plants, and even inanimate objects. However, the human soul is on a different level because, unlike anything else, G-d breathed His essence into us. In the words of Rabbi Yanki Tauber, “a soul is not just the engine of life; it also embodies the ‘why’ of a thing’s existence, its meaning and purpose. It is a thing’s inner identity, it’s raison d’etre.” At the same time, our human soul is located there within our body. And that’s a beautiful dichotomy. While the body is driven primarily by physical needs and desires, the soul is there to lead the body to do goodness and connect to the divine. Hopefully. It is a delicious internal battle. And this is what gives life dynamism. To channel the physical into the spiritual. In the words of the Lubavitcher Rebbe: “Man can never be happy if he does not nourish his soul as he does his body.” Not a bad place to start if you’re looking for good mental and emotional health. To be continued….
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"Ramblings on the Psych Ward"
Dr. Guterson: you talk a lot about the soul. Maybe you can help me understand what the soul is?
A: The soul is that still soft voice that we hear at those moments when we feel a profound sense of belonging. The soul is hidden, within our body, but it is the essence of who we really are. We are all searchers, looking for that inner peace and happiness; yearning to be ‘relaxed’. We can try to distract our lives with material stuff, but inevitably it won’t last long. We wind up feeling a certain emptiness which can lead to all sorts of anxieties and depressions. and that’s one way to keep us psychiatrists in business.
Dr. Guterson: you talk a lot about the soul. Maybe you can help me understand what the soul is?
A: G-d blew His essence into Man. His essence is our essence. And so, when we are truly in touch with our soul, we operate on an entirely different level.
In a talk I studied from Rabbi YY Jacobson, he explains that there are six essential features of the soul. The first five features are: Confidence, Honesty, Innocence, Joy, and Love. This week, the sixth feature: Faith
Faith is a tricky word. There are some sages who say that to connect to a Higher Power isn’t based on faith; rather, it’s based on a sense of knowing. Then there are others who talk about ‘blind faith’ or ‘taking a leap of faith’. But it would be foolish to live our lives based on something that starts with blinders and leaps.
Faith is a skill that every soul has. When that skill is refined, it allows us to experience ultimate reality. Physically speaking, we have five senses. Think of the soul as having a sixth sense, a sense that perceives the reality of
G-dliness. In the words of Rabbi YY Jacobson: “Then there’s a relationship with G-d that’s as real as your five fingers.”
I imagine that when this happens, then ‘faith’ becomes ‘knowingness’.
We just have to cultivate it.
To be continued…..