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ATMA-SIDDHI
19
The two universal propositions in the doubt are untenable, e.g., the growth of a moustache has a beginning, but no end necessarily. The Universe seemingly has no beginning, for no authentic date or time of its beginning can be given, and yet all systems of thought and religion predicate some sort of end for it. Anyhow neither Inductive nor Deductive Logic can stand surety for the truth of the two sweeping generalisations upon which the doubt is based.
Yet we can give a little more thought to their particular application here.
“The soul's Union with Karmas is without a beginning, therefore it has no end.” According to Jaina sacred books, it is true of some souls, the unliberable or Abhavya souls. Such souls will remain embodied in Samsara for ever. They may and will reach up to the end of the Universe, will enjoy all but Omniscience and Omnipotence, but theirs is not to cross into the beyond-Universe into Nirvana. This doctrine causes difficulty to many students of Jainism, but really it is not devoid of some logical force. For the Samsara is eternal and must go on. Therefore some souls there must always be in it. Of these some must always
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