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Chapter 7: The Pupil's Second Doubt regarding the Everlastingness of the Soul
108
બીજી શંકા થાય ત્યાં, આત્મા નહિ અવિનાશ; દેહયોગથી ઊપજે, દેહવિયોગે નાશ.
II Soll
Biji Shankä Thäy Tyän, Ätmä Nahin Avinash;
Deh Yogathi Upaje, Deh Viyoge Näsh.
Now another doubt arises regarding the
indestructibility of the soul; it might emerge with the formation of the body and be destroyed when the body is decomposed.
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Explanation & Discussion:
The pupil now contends that the soul is not everlasting. It is every day experience that whatever we come across is subject to wear and tear, and is ultimately destroyed. The pupil therefore argues that the soul also must be subject to the same process of destruction. He has now no doubt about its existence; but he feels that the soul might be arising with the formation of the body and might be destroyed at death.
The pupil's argument is similar to Chärväk's point of view. Chärväk was an atheist who did not believe in the existence of soul. He believed in living merrily as long as one survives. This can be seen from the following slogan of his philosophy:
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