What is the basic nature of the Soul according to the teachings in the Shri Sai Satcharitra?

According to the teachings presented in Chapter 19, the Soul, or Atma, is fundamentally distinct from the physical body. While the body is perishable, the Soul is described as changeless and imperishable. It is characterized as self-luminous, pure consciousness, formless, and distinct from the body, senses, mind, and life-force. The text uses the analogy of a crystal, which may appear to take on the colors of objects near it but remains intrinsically pure and unchanged. This illustrates how the Soul, despite appearing in the world, remains untainted by it.