Beyond Doubt

SR No.: 008705
Original Sutra Author: N/A
Author: Padmasagarsuri
Publisher: Arunoday Foundation
Publication Year: 1988
Total Pages: 104
Language: English
Classification: Book_English & Sermon
File Size: 16 MB

Page 37

get angry I shall answer your question". The Professor said he shall be happy to hear the answer, and the boy said that the Professor's age at that time would be Forty four years.
The Professor was quite taken aback by the answer, because the student had answered the question correctly. He also asked the formula which the boy had applied to answer the question. The boy refused to reveal the formula because hearing which the Professor would really get angry with him. When the professor coaxed him to tell the formula the boy then said, “Sir, have an elderbrother who also is in the habit of asking such, silly questions. We consulted many doctors but of no avail. All the reports only declared him to be insane. i.e. half mad. Now his age is twenty two years, hence I arrived at yours to be forty four because the double of twenty two is forty four (2 halves make a full, hence the Professor was full mad).
3
The aim of giving the above illustration is that if the question is wrong and senseless the answer will also be absurd.
Standing near Lord Mahavira, Indrabhuti thought "It is not at all astonishing that this person knows my name and family lineage because the whole world is aware of all the facts about me. But if he knows about my doubt and the base of the doubt I shall accept him to be an omniscient and acknowledge his greatness".
As Indrabhuti was seriously contemplating over the issue, Lord Mahavira, quite aware of Indrabhuti's doubt remarked," know that you have a doubt, that has been haunting you for years and it is based on the contradictory statements in the Vedas. Your doubt is that whether soul (atman or Jiva) exists or not.
In the Vedas in one place it is said
"विज्ञानघन एवेतेभ्यो भूतेभ्यः समुत्थाय । तान्येवानु विनश्यति, न प्रेत्य संज्ञाऽस्ति ॥"
So was