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'''Jīva''' (devanāgarī: जीव) is a [[Sanskrit]] word meaning "soul, life, vital breath". In [[Hinduism]] and [[Jainism]], a jiva is a living being, or more specifically, the immortal essence of a living organism (human, animal, fish or plant etc.) which survives physical death. It has a similar usage to atma, "the cosmic self", although jīva denotes an individual 'living entity' or 'living being' specifically.
'''Jīva''' (devanāgarī: जीव) is a [[Sanskrit]] word meaning "soul, life, vital breath". In [[Hinduism]] and [[Jainism]], a jiva is a living being, or more specifically, the immortal essence of a living organism (human, animal, fish or plant etc.) which survives physical death. It has a similar usage to atma, "the cosmic self", although jīva denotes an individual 'living entity' or 'living being' specifically.


In [[Theosophy]] this word is frequently used as a synonym of the "life-principle" ([[prāṇa]]),<ref>Helena Petrovna Blavatsky, ''Collected Writings'' vol. V (Wheaton, IL: Theosophical Publishing House, 1988), 111.</ref> sometimes it refers to its source, the universal life,<ref>Helena Petrovna Blavatsky, ''Collected Writings'' vol. X (Wheaton, IL: Theosophical Publishing House, 1980), 607, fn.</ref> and in other occasions to the [[Monad]].<ref>Helena Petrovna Blavatsky, ''The Secret Doctrine'' vol. I, (Wheaton, IL: Theosophical Publishing House, 1993), 238.</ref>
In [[Theosophy]] this word is frequently used as a synonym of the manifested "life-principle" ([[prāṇa]]):<ref>Helena Petrovna Blavatsky, ''Collected Writings'' vol. V (Wheaton, IL: Theosophical Publishing House, 1988), 111.</ref>


== Notes ==
<blockquote>Esoteric Buddhists or Arhats, recognizing but one life, ubiquitous and omnipresent, call by the name of “Jiv,” the manifested life, the second principle; and by Atman or Jivatman, the seventh principle or unmanifested life.<ref>Helena Petrovna Blavatsky, ''Collected Writings'' vol. IV (Wheaton, IL: Theosophical Publishing House, 1991), 547.</ref></blockquote>


<references/>
However, sometimes the term is used in a more loose way to refer to the universal life,<ref>Helena Petrovna Blavatsky, ''Collected Writings'' vol. X (Wheaton, IL: Theosophical Publishing House, 1980), 607, fn.</ref> or even to the [[Monad]].<ref>Helena Petrovna Blavatsky, ''The Secret Doctrine'' vol. I, (Wheaton, IL: Theosophical Publishing House, 1993), 238.</ref>


==Further reading==
==Online Resources==
===Articles===
*[http://www.theosophy.ph/encyclo/index.php?title=J%C4%ABva# Jīva] at Theosopedia


*[http://www.theosophy.ph/encyclo/index.php?title=J%C4%ABva# Jīva] at Theosopedia
== Notes ==
<references/>





Revision as of 17:57, 21 February 2013

Jīva (devanāgarī: जीव) is a Sanskrit word meaning "soul, life, vital breath". In Hinduism and Jainism, a jiva is a living being, or more specifically, the immortal essence of a living organism (human, animal, fish or plant etc.) which survives physical death. It has a similar usage to atma, "the cosmic self", although jīva denotes an individual 'living entity' or 'living being' specifically.

In Theosophy this word is frequently used as a synonym of the manifested "life-principle" (prāṇa):[1]

Esoteric Buddhists or Arhats, recognizing but one life, ubiquitous and omnipresent, call by the name of “Jiv,” the manifested life, the second principle; and by Atman or Jivatman, the seventh principle or unmanifested life.[2]

However, sometimes the term is used in a more loose way to refer to the universal life,[3] or even to the Monad.[4]

Online Resources

Articles

Notes

  1. Helena Petrovna Blavatsky, Collected Writings vol. V (Wheaton, IL: Theosophical Publishing House, 1988), 111.
  2. Helena Petrovna Blavatsky, Collected Writings vol. IV (Wheaton, IL: Theosophical Publishing House, 1991), 547.
  3. Helena Petrovna Blavatsky, Collected Writings vol. X (Wheaton, IL: Theosophical Publishing House, 1980), 607, fn.
  4. Helena Petrovna Blavatsky, The Secret Doctrine vol. I, (Wheaton, IL: Theosophical Publishing House, 1993), 238.