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

Page 458

Acharya Shri Kailashsagarsuri Gyanmandir
426
Atman and Moka
the space, it has no space to move in. It is immobile or unmoving and still it is active.
An objection is raised against the pervasiveness or omnipresence of the soul. If it were omnipresent, and as it is the case of the doer of actions and the enjoyer of experiences, all persons will be doing the same actions and enjoying the same experiences when they have been done so in one place. But, for this very purpose of avoiding confusion, the Mimārsā believes in the plurality of souls. In his summary of Kumārila's philosophy Ganganath Jha says-"Even though omnipresent, one soul cannot serve the purpose for all personalities, as that would mean that one and the same Soul undergoes the experiences of all persons. The Soul, therefore, must be regarded as many and existing simultaneously. Being immaterial they would not come in each other's way."'l Thus, the soul is immaterial and indivisible. It being immaterial there is no fear of its coming into conflict with other pervasive souls. Every person has a separate soul; therefore, though all souls are all pervading, there is no overlapping, and though all are simultaneous, there is no fear of having the same experiences for all. Because of the separate soul that each person has, every person can separately have his own experiences for himself. Thus, omnipresence is reconciled with the plurality of souls. The Advaita Vedāntins, on the contrary, maintain one Self for all and explain the differences of experiences of separate persons on the ground
1 Jha Ganganath : Pūrva-Mimāmsā, p. 35.
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