I am The Soul Part 01

SR No.: 006790
Original Sutra Author: N/A
Author: Tarulatabai Mahasati
Publisher: Shri Gujarati Shwetambar Sthanakwasi Jain Association
Total Pages: 468
Language: English, Hindi
Classification: Book_English
File Size: 19 MB

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I am the Soul
animate become inanimate. Although the same senses and the same limbs remain on the carcass, without the soul they are useless. We can ascertain somebody's death only from the fact that the body has turned inactive. In spite of knowing that 'the separation of the body and the soul is physical death', we have not seen the soul depart. Yet we firmly believe that the soul has left the body.
Brothers! Let us apply this comprehension to understanding the virtuous emotions of the soul. The various virtues like knowledge, faith, strength, forgiveness, simplicity, quietude, equanimity and the like that reside in the soul are all active within themselves. The more these virtues are expressed, the more active they get. We notice these active virtues in great noble men. These virtues of equanimity, forgiveness, tolerance and the like become distinctly visible with the progress of their sadhaka state; while as a result of sadhana we see the manifestation of the consummation of jnana and darshana.
All jivas foster all these virtues in them. Yet the activity of the virtues perceptible in the great noble men is not to be seen in us. Our experience until now indicates an absolute inactivity of these virtues in us. In spite of there being no difference between us and the siddha atmas who attained siddhi through sadhana in this human form; in spite of our having secured the same human form, howsoever we may try, it seems as if we are of a different kind.
The absence of the manifestation of our virtues is the biggest bane. That itself is violence in thought. The violence in thought causes the occurrence of physical violence. As a result our virtues get destroyed at every moment. The rising feelings of attachment and aversion virtually kill the noble feelings like forgiveness which naturally evolve from the atma. The affected disposition (विभाव) is so very overpowering that the natural disposition (स्वभाव), poor thing! is cowered down into some nook.
Let us ask ourselves. What is the hue of the feelings that prevail upon the incessant activity of our mind, speech and body? They are either immersed in attachment or in aversion. Have