________________
74
THE SACRED BOOKS OF THE JAINAS.
120. As the conscious attentiveness of the soul (is) not other than itself ; so, if anger also be not other than the soul, then there would result the oneness of soul and of non-soul.
Commentary The causes of bondage are distinct from the soul. Anger has been mentioned here only as an example, Consciousness is soul's own nature which can never be taken away from it. In whatever condition of life the soul may happen to be, it always has consciousness everywhere. Owing to the operation of knowledge-obscuring and conation-obscuring Karmas, its knowledge may be dimmed, and its consciousness may be very feebly exhibited. Anger is not the nature of soul. It is the effect of the anger-passion Karma. It is, therefore, material. If one believes anger to be the nature of soul like consciousness, then it will mean that anger is the nature of soul and must be found in the soul at all times and in all conditions. We know that pure souls do not have it; even the sages, saints, and Arhantas have a peacefulness undisturbable by anger. Moreover, ordinary people also do not have anger always. It is present in
ness only as long as there is the operation of anger Karma which is material. If anger be taken to be the nature of soul, then soul and non-soul will become one, and there will be a wrong iden. tity of two different substances, which is impossible.
एवमिह जो दु जीवो सो चैव दुणियमदो तहा जीवो।
अयमेयत्ते दोसो पञ्चयणोकम्म कम्माणं ॥ १२१॥ एवमिह यस्तु जीवः स चैव तु नियमतस्तथा जीवः । अयमेकत्वे दोषः प्रत्ययनोकर्मकर्मणाम् ॥ १२१ ॥
121. Thus in this world whatever is soul, that itself in reality (will become) the non-soul. This impossibility (would result) by identifying(with soul) the causes of physical and Karmic (bondage).
Commentary. Like anger, if other causes of bondage, be taken to be the soul's own nature, it would lead to a denial of the existence of pure soul. These impurities only will everywhere be predominant and we could not then postulate & peaceful, happy and conscious soul ; nor
Jain Education International
For Private & Personal Use Only
www.jainelibrary.org