Аннотация:Concept of Soul among North American Indians
Questions concerning soul have troubled mankind since time immemorial – even before the beginnings of any religious teachings and beliefs. They remain topical to present day. Though the closest attention is usually paid to the processes happening to soul after death, in this article we attempt to track the peculiarities of its life-time existence on the example of the concepts of soul among North American Indians.
On the basis of beliefs of different tribes and their myths we dwell upon the most significant questions concerning soul – its essence and origin, the number of souls in man, the difference between the notions “soul” and “spirit”, the roots of animism and totemism, the idea about helping and guardian spirits, journeys of soul and border states of consciousness, the role of medicine men in communication with souls, the reasons of the fear of ghost spirits, transformations and reincarnations of soul...
In the end we come to the conclusion that despite some differences in the American Indian ideas about soul, however, there are much more similarities in them than it may seem at first glance: for a number of reasons the origin of soul cannot be traced and remains rather vague; this substance is inherent not only in people but also animals, insects, plants and even objects; everybody has at least two or up to four souls which can move (travel) and reincarnate after the death of the physical body; soul, or spirit, can exist independently and may take different appearances. All these beliefs reflected in the mythology, rituals, superstitions and traditions of American Indians are still passed from generation to generation being an integral part of their culture.