Jaina Philosophy

SR No.: 001180
Original Sutra Author: N/A
Author: Mohanlal Mehta
Publisher: Bharatiya Vidya Bhavan
Publication Year: 1998
Total Pages: 328
Language: English
Classification: Book_English & Philosophy
File Size: 15 MB

Page 108

SOUL
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karma and knowledge-obscuring karma takes place simultaneously, and the problem arises which of the two, perfect intuition and perfect knowledge, should spring forth first, the priority cannot be given to any one of them. Nor is it proper to maintain the simultaneous occurrence of both, for two conscious activities never synchronise.' If the removal of the obstruction of both intuition and knowledge takes place at one and the same moment, does the question at all arise as to which of the two arises first ? Nature of worldly Soul :
Vādideva describes the nature of the (worldly) soul in the following manner :
The soul which is proved by direct experience (pratyakşa) etc., is the knower (pramātā). It is essentially conscious, changing, agent, direct enjoyer, equal in extent to its own body, different in each body, and the possessor of material karmas.?
All these characteristics serve specific purposes. The author intends to refute all those schools that do not agree with his conception of soul.
The first characteristic of the soul that it is proved by direct experience, is meant to refute the view of the Cārvāka who does not regard soul as a separate substance. The arguments for the separate existence of soul have already been given. Consciousness as the Essence of Soul :
The second characteristic that it is essentially conscious, is meant for refuting the view of the Nyāya-Vaiseșika school which regards consciousness as an accidental quality of soul.
1. Sanmati-tarka-prakaraṇa, Il. 9. 2. Pramātā pratyakṣādiprasiddha ātmā.
Caitanyasvarūpaḥ pariņāmi karttā sākṣādbhoktā svadehaparimāṇaḥ pratiksetram bhinnah paudgalikādrstavaṁścāyam. ---Pramāņanayatattvāloka, VII. 55-6.