The presence of the divine Adjuster in the human mind
makes it forever impossible for either science or
philosophy to attain a satisfactory comprehension
of the evolving soul of the human personality.
The morontia soul is the child of the universe
and may be really known only through cosmic insight
and spiritual discovery.
x
The concept of a soul and of an indwelling spirit
is not new to Urantia; it has frequently appeared
in the various systems of planetary beliefs.
Many of the Oriental as well as some
of the Occidental faiths have perceived that
man is divine in heritage as well
human in inheritance.
The feeling of the inner presence in addition to the
external omnipresence of Deity has long formed
a part of many Urantian religions.
Men have long believed that there is
something growing within the human nature,
something vital that is destined to endure
beyond the short span of temporal life.
x
Before man realized that his evolving soul
was fathered by a divine spirit,
it was thought to reside in different
physical organs—the eye, liver, kidney, heart,
and later, the brain.
The savage associated the soul with
blood, breath, shadows, and with
reflections of the self in water.
x
In the conception of the atman
the Hindu teachers really approximated
an appreciation of the nature and presence
of the Adjuster,
but they failed to distinguish the copresence
of the evolving and potentially immortal soul.
The Chinese, however, recognized two aspects
of a human being, the yang and the yin,
the soul and the spirit.
The Egyptians and many African tribes
also believed in two factors, the ka and the ba;
the soul was not usually believed to be pre-existent,
only the spirit.
x
The inhabitants of the Nile valley believed that
each favored individual had bestowed upon him
at birth, or soon thereafter, a protecting spirit
which they called the ka.
They taught that this guardian spirit remained with the
mortal subject throughout life and passed before him
into the future estate. On the walls of a temple at Luxor,
where is depicted the birth of Amenhotep III,
the little prince is pictured on the arm of the Nile god,
and near him is another child, in appearance identical
with the prince, which is a symbol of that entity which
the Egyptians called the ka.
This sculpture was completed in the
fifteenth century before Christ.
x
The ka was thought to be a superior spirit genius
which desired to guide the associated mortal soul
into the better paths of temporal living
but more especially to influence the fortunes
of the human subject in the hereafter.
When an Egyptian of this period died,
it was expected that his ka would be waiting
for him on the other side of the Great River.
At first, only kings were supposed to have kas,
but presently all righteous men were believed
to possess them.
One Egyptian ruler, speaking of the ka
within his heart, said:
"I did not disregard its speech;
I feared to transgress its guidance.
I prospered thereby greatly;
I was thus successful by
reason of that which it caused me to do;
I was distinguished by its guidance."
Many believed that the ka was
"an oracle from God in everybody."
Many believed that they were to
"spend eternity in gladness of heart in the favor
of the God that is in you."
x
Every race of evolving Urantia mortals has
a word equivalent to the concept of soul.
Many primitive peoples believed the soul
looked out upon the world through human eyes;
therefore did they so cravenly fear
the malevolence of the evil eye.
They have long believed that
"the spirit of man is the lamp of the Lord."
The Rig-Veda says: "My mind speaks to my heart."
x
From THE URANTIA BOOK
Part III, Paper 111
