Mind vs Soul
The difference between mind and soul should be understood in the philosophical sense. Both, mind and soul are philosophical terms that are different from each other in sense. Mind is the place where we calculate pleasure whereas soul is the place where we feel pleasure. There is a subtle difference between the two according to materialists. According monists, soul is certainly different from the mind. As a matter of fact, according to the monist, soul is not the mind, body, or any other visible thing for that matter. Mind, though not visible, is yet different from the soul according to many philosophers. Therefore, let us see how mind is different from soul.
What is Soul?
According to the Oxford English dictionary, soul is ‘the spiritual or immaterial part of a human being or animal, regarded as immortal.’ In fact, according to thinkers, soul moves from body to body as a man changes his shirt. In short, body alone is perishable but soul is imperishable. Soul is distinct from the body. Soul is not affected by the state of the mind. Soul is unaffected by merit and sin. In other words, it can be said that the soul is untouched by sin just like a leaf of a lotus is untouched by water. Soul does not perform the action of thinking. Moreover, it is believed that the soul is a part of the universal eternal being called the Absolute. The Absolute Supreme controls everything in this universe including the mind. There are no thoughts in the soul.
In day to day life, we use the word soul to mean ‘person, individual or someone.’ For example,
There was not a soul in the house at that time.
Here, soul does not refer to that immortal entity people believe in. In this sentence, soul means someone. As a result, this sentence would mean ‘there was no one in the house at the time.’
What is Mind?
According to the Oxford English dictionary, mind is ‘the element of a person that enables them to be aware of the world and their experiences, to think, and to feel.’ Mind is within the body. Unlike soul, mind is affected by both merit and sin. Even if mind is not touched by merits at certain times, a mind is certainly touched by sin. Mind has the ability to think. Or else, it can be said that the mind performs the action of thinking. Mind is difficult to be controlled. If it is not controlled properly it would get the strength of a thousand elephants. As mind performs the action of thinking, mind is invaded by thoughts. Mind becomes pure when thoughts are cut.
As a word, mind is used in day to day expressions such as ‘I don’t mind the rain.’ Here, mind means ‘to be worried, annoyed or distressed by something.’ Therefore, in this context, the meaning of the expression would be ‘I am not worried about the rain.’
What is the difference between Mind and Soul?
• Soul is ‘the spiritual or immaterial part of a human being or animal, regarded as immortal.’
• Mind is ‘the element of a person that enables them to be aware of the world and their experiences, to think, and to feel.’
• Soul is distinct from the body whereas mind is within the body.
• Soul is immortal and unaffected by merit and sin while mind is affected by merit and sin.
• Unlike a soul, a mind can think.
• Soul is not perishable while the body is perishable.
• Unlike soul, mind is invaded by thoughts.
• In day to day use, the word soul is used to mean ‘person, individual or someone.’
• Mind is also used to mean ‘to be worried, annoyed or distressed by something.’
Images Courtesy:
- Mind by Greg Williams (CC BY 2.0)