Jaina Philosophy

SR No.: 006901
Original Sutra Author: N/A
Author: Virchand R Gandhi, Kumarpal Desai
Publisher: World Jain Confederation
Publication Year: 2009
Total Pages: 298
Language: English
Classification: Book_English
File Size: 5 MB

Page 180

The True Laws of Life
NAS
The description which would be given of different things is just according to the idea that we derive through experience of our senses. As the soul itself is not a thing which can be perceived by the senses, no material description could be used for it. We say that the soul passes into Nirvana, but we express this idea in sentences, so that we may have at least some idea of the condition which is called Nirvana, though it cannot be described in language. We say that that condition is infinite existence, infinite knowledge, infinite bliss, and we must bear in mind that infinite conditions mean not material sense-conditions having no end. There cannot be two infinities; there cannot be two things existing at the same time at all points, if we regard merely space; but infinite power does not require space; it is not a material thing. Material power may require a material medium and infinite material power must require an infinite medium; therefore there could not be two such material infinite powers existing. But knowledge means the power of knowing something, and is not material; therefore that idea of the impossibility of the existence of two infinite things is really speaking a false idea because the reasoning it self is fallacious.
It is a reasoning in which there is no middle term, because the word infinite would be used in the major and minor premises in two different senses. We have therefore to serve its purpose, food is necessary to sustain the body in accomplishing this purpose; but if it is taken for another purpose there is a departure from the right reason, and instead of assisting the soul it injures the soul.
We are to live just as A. gave the food, for a certain purpose, so that he might leave his cell; in the same way the body cannot do anything unless it has food prepared for it; not that the food itself will be changed into some spiritual substance, but it is always to be used for a certain purpose. The soul lives its own life, not for the purpose of the body, but the body lives for the purpose of the
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