Does consciousness depend on the body?

[abdullah_m]

A metaphysical question: Does consciousness (or the soul) depend on the body?

Yes or no?

In other words, is there an independent soul that continues to exist without the body (in some other dimension or whatever), and which is merely attached to the body in this life? This is a commonly held view of the soul which would answer NO to the question posed.

But is the disembodied soul idea true according to scripture?

Can anyone produce verses in the Quran that directly substantiate this view on the nature of the soul?

My personal interpretation of the Quran in this regard is in line with Buddhist thought. Without a body, there is no soul. However, in truth, Allah has the power to resurrect or reanimate the soul, which He will do on the Final Day. Allah also has the power to transform the soul into something else.

30.55  And on the day when the Hour riseth the guilty will vow that they did tarry but an hour - thus were they ever deceived.
30.56  But those to whom knowledge and faith are given will say: The truth is, ye have tarried, by Allah's decree, until the Day of Resurrection. This is the Day of Resurrection, but ye used not to know.

This passage tells me that there is no existence whatsoever for the soul - no consciousness - between death and resurrection, and implies that the soul is dependent upon the body for its arising and its existence.

[Q_student]

A metaphysical question: Does consciousness (or the soul) depend on the body?

Yes or no?

In other words, is there an independent soul that continues to exist without the body (in some other dimension or whatever), and which is merely attached to the body in this life? This is a commonly held view of the soul which would answer NO to the question posed.

But is the disembodied soul idea true according to scripture?

Can anyone produce verses in the Quran that directly substantiate this view on the nature of the soul?

My personal interpretation of the Quran in this regard is in line with Buddhist thought. Without a body, there is no soul. However, in truth, Allah has the power to resurrect or reanimate the soul, which He will do on the Final Day. Allah also has the power to transform the soul into something else.

This passage tells me that there is no existence whatsoever for the soul - no consciousness - between death and resurrection, and implies that the soul is dependent upon the body for its arising and its existence.

Peace
You mean soul will be "re-created" on the day of resurrection ?
Regards

[TAJ]

Peace,

A metaphysical question: Does consciousness (or the soul) depend on the body?

Yes or no?

In other words, is there an independent soul that continues to exist without the body (in some other dimension or whatever), and which is merely attached to the body in this life? This is a commonly held view of the soul which would answer NO to the question posed.

But is the disembodied soul idea true according to scripture?

Can anyone produce verses in the Quran that directly substantiate this view on the nature of the soul?

My personal interpretation of the Quran in this regard is in line with Buddhist thought. Without a body, there is no soul. However, in truth, Allah has the power to resurrect or reanimate the soul, which He will do on the Final Day. Allah also has the power to transform the soul into something else.

This passage tells me that there is no existence whatsoever for the soul - no consciousness - between death and resurrection, and implies that the soul is dependent upon the body for its arising and its existence.

  وَيَسۡـَٔلُونَكَ عَنِ ٱلرُّوحِ‌ۖ قُلِ ٱلرُّوحُ مِنۡ أَمۡرِ رَبِّى وَمَآ أُوتِيتُم مِّنَ ٱلۡعِلۡمِ إِلَّا قَلِيلاً۬    
And they ask you about the soul. Say, "The soul is of the affair of my Lord. And mankind have not been given of knowledge except a little." (17:85)


Btw, are you a Jew, or come from a Jew background?

[abdullah_m]

Peace, sister. I am not a Jew. I have a Christian education. I know why you ask though. Classical Jewish teaching denies the afterlife. This is on reason, perhaps, why there is no mention of heaven or hell in the Torah. The Bible never speaks of punishment after death until Prophet Isa.

I most certainly am a muslim (sufi) by the grace of Allah. Thanks be to Allah. Thank you so much for that aya, sister. It is true: of the ruh, little has been revealed. But it is fun to wonder, and I believe direct ilm is given to some of His slaves who are worthy.

[TAJ]

Salam brother abdullah_m,

I most certainly am a muslim (sufi) by the grace of Allah. Thanks be to Allah. Thank you so much for that aya, sister. It is true: of the ruh, little has been revealed. But it is fun to wonder, and I believe direct ilm is given to some of His slaves who are worthy.

["little has been revealed"]
"... And what you have been given of the knowledge is but little"..(17:85)

I would really like you to bear in mind and trust that that little that we know or will ever get to know is perfectly enough for us.

When you are in there, in that space inside yourself where Allah has blown in you (Adam/us) from His ruh, ayah [15:29], you would be in a state where all thoughts would seize to be, all thoughts, except for the words of Hamd (gratitude),Tasbeeh (exalting Allah) and Tawheed (marveling Allah, the One and only One). There, in that deep place, (where Satan is blocked and forbidden from entering and if he tries he will be instantly burnt at its borders), you will only find awe, humbleness, obedience, gratitude, peace, trust, love, joy, fulfillment, acceptance and feelings that rise way above nagging thoughts. Yet, surprisingly, knowledge will come to you. What sort of knowledge? Enlightenment and awareness; and all that is necessarily for you to know. Knowledge, attention and realization will come to you about things you never even asked about, which, in turn, will only increase your Hamd, Tasbeeh and Tawheed. It will just spring, from that place of wonder. If you find yourself being distracted by curious or routine thoughts, know that you have stepped out of the place into a shallow outer dimension (Satan's play field) that would consume you to no avail.


 

[Alen]

A metaphysical question: Does consciousness (or the soul) depend on the body?

Yes or no?

Peace,
Respectfully.

I don;'t think so. Have you seen Ghost? I mean, once the body stops functioning, that's it: game over.
Soul goes into AfterLife.

Peace.

[abdullah_m]

I don;'t think so. Have you seen Ghost? I mean, once the body stops functioning, that's it: game over.
Soul goes into AfterLife.

The Hollywood movie Ghost? Are you joking, brother? That nonsense is based on Spiritism.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Spiritism

Peace.

[nerspi]

peace

of course it doesn't depend on the body. we are only put into this body, after it expires, the soul/consciousness/essence/energy... (call it what you want) moves on to the next realm/level... depending on it's development here on this one.

[Alen]

The Hollywood movie Ghost? Are you joking, brother? That nonsense is based on Spiritism.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Spiritism
Peace.

Peace,
Respectfully.

I know, i was being funny.lol

Peace.

[L.Hu]

"A metaphysical question: Does consciousness (or the soul) depend on the body?"

Yes. Consciousness is incarnate. No body, no mind. I do not believe in a "soul" independent of the body. Consciousness arises in the body, is a part of the body, and ends with the body. Sometimes I doubt the existence of consciousness. I express sympathy for behaviorism. Read Maurice Merleau-Ponty's "Phenomology of Perception".

"The best picture of man is his body" Ludwig Wittgenstein