Window into our souls

"And fear not them which kill the body, but are not able to kill the soul: but rather fear Him which is able to destroy both soul and body in hell." - King James Version of the Bible

If eyes are the window to one's heart, what can be the window to one's soul? Which is it that can give an insight, a perception of the inner nature, into that immaterial essence, animating principle, or actuating cause of an individual life: the moral and immoral nature, and the emotional faculty of man as different from his intellect? The concept of a soul is found in, nearly all cultures and religions, though the interpretations of its nature vary considerably.

The ancient Egyptians conceived of a dual soul, one surviving death, but remaining near the body, while the other proceeded to the realm of the dead.

The early Hebrews did not consider the soul as distinct from the body, but later Jewish writers perceived the two as separate.

The early pre-Pythagorean belief was that the soul had no life when it departed from the body, and retired into Hades with no hope of returning to a body.

Christian theology adopted the Greek concept of an immortal soul, adding the notion that God created the soul and infused it into the body at conception.

However, the Catholic theologian Thomas Aquinas attributed a soul to all organisms but taught that only human souls are immortal. In Islam, the belief is that the soul comes into existence at the same time as the body; but is everlasting and subject to eternal bliss or torment after the death of the body.

In Hinduism each soul, or Atman, was created at the beginning of time and imprisoned in an earthly body; and at death the soul is, said to pass to a new body according to the laws of Karma.

Jainism teaches that all biological organisms have souls, while some others thought and taught further still, that non-biological entities such as rivers and mountains too possessed souls. Buddhism negates the idea of a soul, asserting that any sense of an individual self is illusory.

Reality

In current psychology which in reality is the study of "soul," psychologist James Hillman, the founder of archetypal-psychology, described the soul as: that which makes meaning possible, deepens events into experiences, is communicated in love, and has a religious concern," as well as "a special relation with death." Summarising Hillman's views, author and psychotherapist Thomas Moore associates spirit with "after-life, cosmic issues, idealistic values and hopes, and universal truths", while placing soul "in the thick of things: in the repressed, in the shadow, in the messes of life, in illness, and in the pain and confusion of love."

To confound the confusion, in modern terminology, "Soul" can function as a synonym for spirit, mind, psyche, or self: Although the terms soul and spirit are sometimes used interchangeably; soul denotes a, more-worldly and less transcendent aspect of a person. Further, the words soul and psyche can also be synonymous; although psyche has more, physical connotations.

The soul is, connected more closely to spirituality and religion.

However, leaving aside the perplexity and puzzlement in understanding the nature of 'soul' and its intricacies; assuming it to mean the widely understood meaning of 'self'; where and how do we find the window to our soul? We are aware that all souls desire to be understanding, while our ego is only concerned with wanting to, be understood.

Thoughts

Therefore, when one becomes an understanding soul: an appreciative, aware, discerning, person; a person of insight judgement, and knowledge; it is then that the connection to our soul is made, and the knower becomes what he knows. "A soul that is kind and intends justice discovers more than any sophist," said Sophocles the Greek Tragedian.

In such a confusing array of thoughts, how can one find the window into our soul? Where from does our soul, the existence of the inner experience, originate within us? Be it in our heart or the mind, or elsewhere within our body, the current limits of our knowledge on the study of mental processes and behaviour does not permit an answer.

Much of the modern scientific study relating to the soul has involved investigating the soul as an object of human belief or as a, concept that shapes cognition and an understanding of the world, rather than as an entity in and of itself.

Thus, the contemporary approach is not so much as to attack the existence of an independent soul as render the concept less relevant: similar to what the Buddha taught.

Nevertheless, and in spite of all of the above, "there is one thing one has to have: either a soul that is cheerful by nature; or a soul made cheerful by work, love, art, and knowledge" - Friedrich Nietzsche, philosopher writer, and scholar.

This is reality: to be of good cheer is paramount to the human need, howsoever it comes about, because it does make life worthy of living. The visibility of cheer is in the eyes. It means that without even having any dialogue with a person, you can look into the eyes and decipher the nature of the soul. Have you ever seen someone that had a look of compassion in their eyes and not had that feeling validated in how they talk or behave.

Attitude

That is an example of the eyes being a window to the soul. But eyes are also the window to our heart. Does it then mean that the soul resides in ones heart?

There are many a lessons we can read from the eyes. Sparkling eyes show strong emotions: negative or positive, that reflects loss, triumph, and victory.

Narrowed eyes indicate suffering and pain, while widely opened eyes serve to intimidate.

Unfocused look indicates that the person we are talking to has more or less "wandered off" in his/her thoughts and is not paying attention to us, and lowered look often reminds of modesty or servitude, and often of shame.

Blinking reveals secrecy and it is the most powerful mean of attracting other people's attention and desire to share a secret.

Thus, eyes can reveal even smallest changes on the body and in the attitude of people. Given the fact that most people are not aware of this, skilful participant can easily get a hint on what is happening.

We cannot read other people's minds in their eyes; but we can see the hints about the feelings of the person we are in, contact with.

These small signs change from moment to moment, and anyone can be aware of them if he or she pays attention to it. Experts say that the eyes are the mirror of reason and love; and in their expression, much revealed without a word spoken.

Hence, they are the window to our soul. In fact, the eyes are more than a window to our soul; they are the window to our health.

In addition to diagnosing eye disease and conditions, doctors may be able to see signs of high cholesterol, high blood pressure, diabetes, and other medical conditions by examining our eyes. Damage to the blood vessels at the back of the eye can be the first physical sign of a health problem.

Eyes are not only a window into our soul; but also are the window to a healthy soul.

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