[r.p.bibra]

Re: what is spirit, can we become mindful of it.
It has all the attributes, which are ascribed to ‘reality’ or the ‘Being’Sat-Ciitta-Anandha (Truth (whole/existence)-Awareness (ciitt)-Bliss (Anandha). Aathma =self; Soul. Self with limitations is jeeva (the individual soul). Self with no limitations is Brahman (the Supreme Reality). Athma is the embodiment of bliss, viz., eternal bliss, wisdom absolute, beyond the pair of opposites, expansive and pervasive like sky, the goal indicated by the Mahavakya Tattwamas(thou are ‘I’ are one), one without a second, eternal, pure, unchanging, witness of all functions and the intellect and the three attributes of Sattwa(truth), Rajas(righteousness) and Tamas(sensuality) . Soul spirit is one. But soul& mind are not one (guille). mind is gross, hence inert. It (mind) drives its sustenance from consciousness. It was mentioned by you elsewhere that ‘conscience’ is the inner monitor. Conscience in fact is the reflection of soul. Deeper than soul is nothing but soul! soul has five sheaths enclosing the soul----sheaths of bliss, intelligence, mind, vital energy and physical matter. An aspirant has to elevate through each one of them to reach/attain its final abode. Aspirants like the l.s. wrongly consider soul as a single unit encasing each living being. Soul is like an ocean of ‘Awareness’ in which ephemeral creations of Nature manifest, thus its attributes automatically are immanent in all its manifestation. Vedathin believe it is all Brahman; in Him we manifest; in Him we merge. He is the primal cause of creation, sustenance and annihilation. Soul is Brahman! For soul (awareness) we begin our search, in soul we (mind) merge. Pl explain, more elaborately, about the last line “Life essence is then like a darkened flame?” with love&regards.ls.