I am The Soul Part 02

SR No.: 006791
Original Sutra Author: N/A
Author: Tarulatabai Mahasati
Publisher: Shri Gujarati Shwetambar Sthanakwasi Jain Association
Total Pages: 466
Language: English, Hindi
Classification: Book_English
File Size: 18 MB

Page 81

Atma is eternal as substance ...
The devoted pursuit of the three gems, enables the experience of the true form of atma and stabilises in the eternal true disposition.
In Atmasiddhi Shastra, Gurudev has so far offered many arguments that go to prove the eternal nature of atma, to clarify the doubts of the disciple. Even now there is a doubt in the disciple's mind. If all things are momentary, then the atma too has to be momentary. For atma is a thing. Whether you call the atma a thing, or a substance or matter or element - all are but synonyms. Therefore here atma has been called a thing which is momentary
Keeping the philosophical thinking of Jainism in view, Gurudev offers a clarification to this doubt -
आत्मा द्रव्ये नित्य छेपर्याये पलटाय;
aifa au touj, F11 Pantera .....86
Atma is a substance - dravya. The characteristic of dravya is sat (FT). Truly, dravya is made up of utpad, vyaya and dhrouvya. The arising of a paryaya - transition - in the atma is utpad; the destruction of that paryaya - abating - is vyaya and the remaining of the atma in its own true form while being in both these states is dhrouvya. Dhruvata is permanence. The remaining of the substance in itself, in its own true form is stability. Whatever be the number of paryayas that extend and abate in the atma, it does not change. It remains as it is. That which has been subsisting from infinite time, that which will subsist for infinite time in future and that, which is subsisting at present and yet remains absolutely unaltered, is dravya - substance.
Let us understand this with the example of gold. Gold, being formed in to various shapes, is dravya - the substance and the