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THE LAW OF MORAL CAUSATION
chemical action; and in living beings there is the reproduction of the species. These characteristics are not possessed by dead objects. With reference to consciousness, the difference is more marked. Consciousness can never be identical with motion; they may go together, and one may even be dependent upon the other; but they are different. Consciousness is a synthesis, and not a motion. It is a synthesis of perceptions and conceptions, Consciousness and life have some substance other than material substance; but stil: it is real substance. It is a substance which is not cognized by the senses, but objects which can be known by the senses do not exhaust the whole universe. The substratum (so to speak) of life and consciousness is the 'soul or 'atman'. Consciousness is an experience; the consciousness of one person cannot be the consciousness of another. You may know another map's consciousness but you cannot have another man's consciousness. Hence each person's individuality is entirely different from the individuality of another: one 'atman' does not become another 'atmap'.
So there are these principles (1) the universe is a system, and (2) there are atmans or souls which can have no beginning or end: you cannot postulate a beginning to a reality.
A reality in order to be real need not be changeless. A reality should pass through varying changes and states. To be, to exist, according to the Jain
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