Once upon a time, there was a woman named Elara who lived in a small village at the edge of a vast, mysterious forest. Elara had always been curious about the deeper meaning of life and often wondered what her soul truly was. Her quest for understanding began on a cool spring morning when she decided to set out on a journey to seek answers from the wise and learned of different traditions.
Her first destination was an old church in a nearby town. There, she met a kind priest, Father Jacobus, who told her about the Christian conception of the soul. “The soul is the immortal part of us, Elara,” said Father Jacobus. “After our death, our soul goes to heaven or hell, depending on how we have lived. It is the core of our identity and consciousness.” Elara felt a certain comfort in this thought, but her curiosity was not yet satisfied.
Next, she traveled to a distant temple in the mountains, where she met a Hindu guru, Master Ramesh. The guru explained, “In Hinduism, we believe that the soul, or ‘Atman,’ is eternal and unchanging. Our soul reincarnates in different bodies through many lives until we achieve moksha, liberation from the cycle of rebirth.” Elara was fascinated by the idea of reincarnation and the soul’s eternal journey, but she wanted to learn more perspectives.
Her journey then brought her to a prestigious university, where she met a philosopher, Professor Elena. “Plato believed that the soul is an immaterial and immortal element that temporarily inhabits the body,” she explained. “Aristotle, on the other hand, saw the soul more functionally, as the principle that gives life to a living being. For him, the soul was not necessarily immortal.” Elara found the philosophical approach intriguing, but she felt there was still more to discover.
In her quest, she traveled further to remote villages and spoke with shamans and spiritual leaders from various cultures. She heard stories about multiple souls, spiritual entities, and the profound connection between the soul and nature. Each perspective offered her new insights, but also new questions.
One day, Elara met an old woman named Zia, who was known as a wise person in her own village. She told Zia about her journey and what she had learned. Zia smiled and said, “Elara, the soul is like a mirror that reflects the diversity of our existence. For some, it is an immortal part that continues in the afterlife; for others, it is an eternal traveler through many lives. For yet others, it is the source of our consciousness and identity. What is important is how you experience and understand your own soul.”
Elara realized that her quest for the soul was not so much about finding one definitive answer, but about the journey itself and the many perspectives she had discovered. She felt enriched by the wisdom of the people she had met and began to cherish her own experience and understanding of her soul.
With a deeper appreciation for the mystery of life, Elara returned to her village. She remained curious and open to new insights, but she had learned that the quest for the soul is a personal and ongoing journey, full of wonders and wisdom. And so she lived on, with a soul that continually grew and enriched itself through the many experiences and insights of her journey.
Kristin Stobbink “SOULS” 2024
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Kristin Stobbink Prenten 