The Human Soul: A Roman Catholic View: Journal of Vaishnava Studies

Abstract

The soul, or self (ātma), is described as a separated, minute fragment of God, the Supersoul (paramātma). God is like a fire; the individual souls, sparks of the fire. As the analogy suggests, the self and the Superself are simultaneously one with and different from each other. They are the same in quality, for both the soul and the Supersoul are brahman. spirit. Yet they differ in quantity, since the Superself (param brahman—“supreme brahman”— in Bhagavad-gītā 10.12) is infinitely great while the individual selves are infinitesimally small.