________________
CHAPTER 10
PHYSICAL BODY (EMBODIMENT IN MATIER)
THE CAUSE OF TROUBLE
The Jaina view is, that spirit and flesh, that is, the body of matter, are of opposite natures. The physical encasement thus stands in the way of the realisation of the inborn divinity of the soul. The body must be got rid of altogether.
The Christian view of the subject will appear from the following quotations:
"... filesh ... separates and limits the knowledge of those that are spiritual ... for souls themselves by themselves are equal."(Clement) A.N.C.L. vol. xii. p. 362.
"For bound in this earthly body we apprehend the objects of sense by means of the body."-Ibid. p. 224.
“His own iniquities shall take the wicked himself, and he shall be holden with the cords of his own sins."-Proverbs v. 22.
“The mental acumen of those who are in the body seems to be blunted by the nature of corporeal matter."-(Origen) A.N.C.L.
p. 82.
"... he that hath suffered in the Aesh hath ceased from sin."-1 Peter iv. I.
"... whosoever shall I se his life shall preserve it." -Luke xvii. 33.
"Now this I say, brethren, 'that flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God; neither doth corruption inherit incorruption. Behold, I shew you a mystery; we shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed ... For this corruptible must put on incorruption, and this mortal must put on immortality, so when this corruptible shall have
61
