Relation between Soul and the God

A disciple asked the Self realized master, “Dear Sir, what is the relation between Soul and God?”

The master closed his eyes for a moment and then said in his deep and calm voice, “Son, the relation between soul and the Supreme Soul, the God, is similar to the relation between the water drop and ocean; relation between the gold ornaments and gold; relation between the body and the nature.”

“Respected master, can you please explain it in a little more detail.”

“The gold ornaments exists in a variety of shape and form; but these ornaments originates from gold and then finally, after years of use, leave their form to become one with gold again. During this whole time, in all the forms, the true nature remains that of gold only. Similarly, the water drops take different forms of bubbles and huge waves in the ocean, but remain part of the ocean. Water drops even leave the ocean to take form of vapors, become cloud, snow, rain, river water and then finally become one with the ocean again. During this whole time, in all the forms, the true nature of all the forms remains that of water only.”

After a brief pause, the master continued, “If you analyze carefully, it is very interesting that human body, which is made up five elements (earth, water, air, fire and space), arises from the nature; maintains the balance between those five elements throughout the life; and then finally, let go of the five elements to become one with the nature.”

'So, you are telling that the Soul is part and parcel of God, and then finally become one with the God?”

With a smile on his face the master replied, “Even Shri Krishna told in Srimad Bhagwad Gita:”

mamaivamso jiva-loke jiva-bhutah sanatanah

manah sasthanindriyani prakrti sthani karsati ||Bhagwad-Gita 15-7||

Meaning:

The embodied living entity is God's infinitesimal potency and eternal; in the world of embodied living entities the influence of the material energy is carried by the mind and the six perceptual senses. 

With some signs of confusion on his face, the disciple gathered some courage and asked, “But Sir, its very difficult to believe that we are part and parcel of God. God made the world, it's objects and the beautiful living and non-living beings. But, we can't even create a sparrow?”

The smile on the master's face became wider and he said, “Alright son, this discussion is becoming too long and I am thirsty. Please go and fetch some water from river Ganges for me.”

The disciple went to the river and returned with a pot full of water from the river.

While looking at the water, the master commented, “Son, are you sure this is water from the grand river? The river water hold millions of fishes,sand, plants, and many other forms of living beings. But this water in the pot has none of those.”

“Sir, I swear to God that this is the water from river Ganges.”

“Son, I also swear to the same God that your true Self, your Soul is the part and parcel of God.”

They both started laughing.