Life & Soul

I got a task to explain, “what is life”, “what is soul” and “what could be difference between these two”. But I hope you understand: “tangible” and “intangible”.  Anything which we can feel with any one of our five sense-organs, that is, anything which is perceptible, is tangible.  On the other hand, if we cannot feel anything with any one of our sense-organs, then that is intangible.

For example, what is a geometric point? A geometric point “does not have any length, area, volume or any other dimensional attribute". Means, it is a not having any dimension! Really! Can we really feel anything with our sensory organ which has no dimensions? Possibly not! Hence, a geometric point is, in real term, just a concept and intangible. There are many such things in our life which are intangible. Like concept of God, an intangible concept.

But why I am discussing these? Because, in my understanding Life is tangible and Soul is intangible. Somehow or other we can feel any form of life with at least one of our sensory organs but not Soul. Possibly Soul is related to Human or such civilized and intelligent animals which can remember their histories.

Soul is possibly a set of moral guidelines we create on our own to have a decent and civilized life to lead. A beast, a beetle, a snake, a crocodile, a bird, a tree don’t have to think (possible they can’t think) about their past and eventually cannot refine their behavior for social harmony. But there are contrary scenarios. Same may not apply to social animals, like, bees, ants, chimpanzee, elephants, etc. Question is, do they have soul? I don’t know.

But then what is LIFE? In my way of saying, it is a bunch of chemicals and circumferential conditions, present together, at one given time, can leads to life. Mars have had all required chemicals but circumferential conditions ceased to exist to have life any more.

Whereas, earth being in goldilocks zone of Sun, does have all such substances available to sustain and grow life. Once a life, e.g. a kid, is born, it just needs supplies of all such ingredients in right quantities to grow and develop in to a full human. Over a period of time sustaining the entire body becomes difficult (even if all necessary conditions and supplies remain constant) as all the components of the body becomes old and slowly reduces internal cohesions.  Eventually, the body dies. The circle continues….

However, a human becomes Human Being, if only it has soul.

Put your thought in to it and let me know your idea of life & soul.

-Robbing Eyes
© tamal kumar guha