OLD SOUL

We hear the term “old soul” every so often.  Old souls are persons who have learned from their past incarnations, or lives. They have acquired certain knowledge which they can apply to their present life, so that they, quite apparently, have more wisdom than the average person.

From the standpoint of Vedanta, “old soul” is a misnomer, as all souls are old.  In Vedanta the soul is called the Atman, which, like its source the Brahman, was never born and never dies.  Instead, it travels through time, lifetime after lifetime, on its mission to one day “awaken,” reunite with Brahman.

The Atman, by way of Brahman, is intrinsically wise.  It is absolute knowledge.  This knowledge appears in a person the moment the Atman in him awakens.