Many people have doubts whether our soul and our consciousness is one and the same or whether it is different. Consciousness means awareness and indicates the presence of intelligence.Soul is a consciousness residing in our body but not the only consciousness. There are many cells in our body which have their own consciousness. Heart functions are controlled by the consciousness of the heart. Similarly growth of hair and nails are controlled by the respective cell consciousness. The soul does not have direct involvement in this. However soul is the unifying consciousness under which every other consciousness functions. When soul departs all other consciousness cease to exist. If consciousness at certain area cease to function it may cause discomfort to the soul.This is when disease sets in .If there is a substantial mal functioning of local consciousness the soul may find it meaningless remaining in the body and hence may leave.
Let us consider lighting arrangement of a house. Bulb in each rooms light up the rooms and are like individual consciousness of the body. A fused bulb in a room puts out the light in that room. They do not affect the whole house. Electricity flowing through the electric circuit is like the soul which unifies all individual consciousness. If there is no supply of electricity then no lights can function. If all the bulbs are fused then there is no point in having electricity. That is why when various consciousnesses in the body fade the soul decides to leave.
