Soul Sustenance

Comparing Atom And Atma 

The knowledge of the laws of the physical universe is based on the atomic theory. The atom is seen to be a point-source of energy, and different energy levels and vibrations between neighbouring atoms give the appearance of form, colour and heat. It has been established that the entire material world we see around us as a variety of forms and colours, light and heat, is formed of these point sources of physical energy or atoms. The most beautiful scene in nature is merely a pattern of energy waves and vibrations. The sense organs select the vibrations and relay a message to the mind where all images are formed. The eyes see some of these patterns as light forms and colours, the nose picks up odours. In the same way sounds, tastes and sensations are detected and all of these are transmitted to the mind. 

Atomic theory appeared originally in Greece and in India. The English word atom came from the Greek wordatomos meaning indivisible. This word is similar to the Hindi word atma which means self or soul and refers to the conscious energy of the human as being an indivisible and un-destroyable point of non-physical light. 

The human body is also a complex pattern of physical energies. Atomic particles build together to form the organic structures and inorganic minerals which perform the body's chemical interactions, thus forming the basis of the hormonal and nervous control of the body. What we see as old or young, ugly or beautiful, male or female, is also the effect of these differing levels of physical energies between neighbouring atoms. However marvellous a machine the body may be, it is the presence of the soul which makes it function. 

One of the basic differences between souls and atoms is that while souls can exercise choice of their movements, where and when to go somewhere, atoms cannot obviously exercise such choice. In a way you could say that a soul is a point-source of spiritual energy that has awareness of its own existence. Atoms do not.