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Ātmavāda : An Analysis
(Concept of Atman) VARIOUS THEORIES OF SOUL ht: 3 Sūtrakartānga discusses different theories of soul.1 Some philosophical theories postulate the ultimate elements as the highest reality of the universe. The earth, water, air, fire and space have been considered to be the ultimate elements of the universe, and soul is a product of the combination of these elements. In the Buddhist literature, we find references to these theories of the soul and there is mention of a theory that the soul as a thing consisted of the four elements excepting space. The Rigvedic seers speculated over the nature of the soul and they were perplexed to discover the real and the ultimate nature of the soul. They asked the question : "Who am I ?" "I do not know." In the philosophic discussions about the nature of the soul, several views have been presented which mention the nature of the soul in the materialistic and the idealistic strain. Some have said that the soul is composition of matter, some identify it with an aspect of praksti, some make the soul the essence of life (prāņa) and still others give an idealistic picture of the soul as a person (puruşa).
THE MATERIALISTIC CONCEPTION OF SOUL Hos
Considered from the historical point of view, the materialistic view of reality is very ancient. We find mention of this view as a 1 Sūtrak stānga, 1, 1, 1, 7-8. 2 Sūtrak rtānga, 1, 1, 1, 7.
Santi pañca mahbbhūyā ihamegesimāhiyä.
Pudhavī āū teü va vāü āgāsa pañcayā. 3 Brahmajālasutta. 4 Rigveda-1, 164, 37.—Na vā jānāmi yadiva idava idamasmi.
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