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The English word '''''spirit''''' (from [[Latin]] ''spiritus'' "breath") has many differing meanings and connotations, most of them relating to a non-corporeal substance. It is distinguished from Latin ''anima'', "soul." In Greek, this distinction exists between ''pneuma'' (πνευμα), "breath, motile air, spirit," and ''psyche'' (psykhē, ψυχη), "soul."
The English word '''''spirit''''' (from [[Latin]] ''spiritus'' "breath") has many differing meanings and connotations, most of them relating to a non-corporeal substance. It is distinguished from Latin ''anima'', "soul." In Greek, this distinction exists between ''pneuma'' (πνευμα), "breath, motile air, spirit," and ''psyche'' (psykhē, ψυχη), "soul."


Spirit. The lack of any mutual agreement between writers in the use of this word has resulted in dire confusion. It is commonly made synonymous with soul; and the lexicographers countenance the usage. In Theosophical teachings. the term “Spirit” is applied solely to that which belongs directly to Universal Consciousness, and which is its homogeneous and unadulterated emanation. Thus, the higher Mind in Man or his Ego (Manas) is, when linked indissolubly with Buddhi, a spirit; while the term “Soul”, human or even animal (the lower Manas acting in animals as instinct), is applied only to Kâma-Manas, and qualified as the living soul. This is nephesh, in Hebrew, the “breath of life”. Spirit is formless and immaterial, being, when individualised, of the highest spiritual substance—Suddasatwa, the divine essence, of which the body of the manifesting highest Dhyanis are formed. Therefore, the Theosophists reject the appellation “ Spirits” for those phantoms which appear in the phenomenal manifestations of the Spiritualists, and call them “shells”, and various other names. (See “Sukshma Sarîra”.) Spirit, in short, is no entity in the sense of having form ; for, as Buddhist philosophy has it, where there is a form, there is a cause for pain and suffering. But each individual spirit—this individuality lasting only throughout the manvantaric life-cycle—may be described as a centre of consciousness, a self-sentient and self-conscious centre; a state, not a conditioned individual. This is why there is such a wealth of words in Sanskrit to express the
In the [[Theosophy|Theosophical]] literature "spirit" usually refers to [[atman]] or sometimes to atma-buddhi and less frequently even atma-buddhi-manas.
 
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different States of Being, Beings and Entities, each appellation showing the philosophical difference, the plane to which such unit belongs, and the degree of its spirituality or materiality. Unfortunately these terms are almost untranslatable into our Western tongues.

Revision as of 19:10, 23 March 2012

The English word spirit (from Latin spiritus "breath") has many differing meanings and connotations, most of them relating to a non-corporeal substance. It is distinguished from Latin anima, "soul." In Greek, this distinction exists between pneuma (πνευμα), "breath, motile air, spirit," and psyche (psykhē, ψυχη), "soul."

In the Theosophical literature "spirit" usually refers to atman or sometimes to atma-buddhi and less frequently even atma-buddhi-manas.

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