tman_and_moksa

SR No.: 020053
Original Sutra Author: N/A
Author: G N Joshi
Publisher: Gujarat University
Publication Year: 1965
Total Pages: 901
Language: English
Classification: Book_English
File Size: 12 MB

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Acharya Shri Kailashsagarsuri Gyanmandir
Atman and Mokşa
66
According to the Nyaya and Vais'eṣika systems, there are certain things which are immaterial or incorporeal. Knowledge, desire, will, pleasure and pain are not corporeal things. However, they have only transitory or momentary existence. They are passing phases of our mental experiences. They cannot belong to material things as their attributes. As earth has fragrance as its special attribute, so, analogically, these attributes, are imagined to belong to a separate substance and that substance is recognised by these systems as the 'soul'. It is said in the Nyaya Sūtras of Gotama - Desire, aversion, volition, pleasure, pain and intelligence are the masks of the soul." As colour belongs to fire, taste to water, touch to air, odour to earth and sound to ākās'a, as the attribute of each separately, so do these attributes like knowledge, desire, hatred, volition, pleasure and pain belong to a separate substance called the soul. The Soul is regarded as a substance which acts as the possessor of the mental attributes. These qualities are not found in other beings except human beings and hence, it is natural to infer the existence of such an enduring entity, which supports these qualities. The mental qualities inhere in the soul as does odour in earth and colour in fire. The Nyaya Vais'eṣika soul is substantive being which exists by itself and supports the mental qualities lik ewill, desire and intelligence. Material things like stones, trees, water, mountains do not
For Private And Personal
1 Vidyabhushan S. C.-Nyaya Sutras of Gotama. 1. 1.10. (Tr.) इच्छाद्वेष प्रयत्न सुखदुःखज्ञानानि, आत्मनो लिङ्गमिति ।