Atmatatva Vichar Or Philosophy Of Soul

SR No.: 023322
Original Sutra Author: N/A
Author: Vijaylakshmansuri, Ghanshyam Joshi, Kirtivijay Gani
Publisher: Mohanlal D Mehta
Publication Year: 1963
Total Pages: 568
Language: English
Classification: Book_English
File Size: 39 MB

Page 172

PHILOSOPHY OF SOUL
149
up the vow of observing religious conduct. The merchant was in fact righteous by conduct but to improve his wife's conduct he took her to the preceptor. Thereafter both stayed happily, but this incident can well afford a correct picture of the worldly life.
Highly deplorable characteristic of worldly happiness is that the souls enticed by such happiness fall a prey to Artadhyana and even Rudradyana. These both dhyanas (mental excitements) create bondages of evil acts leading to spiritual degradation. Lord Shri Hemachandracharya, declares in Yogashastra, "One should not entertain evil excitements even out of desires or out of curiosity as such excitements lead to self destruction."
Some might argue, “Where is the question of Artadhyana when the desire for happiness is entertained ?” But in such desires strong attachment for worldly material objects is at the root, and this attachment is all the while being brooded in the mind. Any obstacle in the path of achievement of this happiness makes them very uneasy. They believe themselves highly pitiable, unfortunate and sufferers of deep miseries. Thus desire for material happiness is the cause of pitiable excitement. It feeds and fosters such excitements.
With millions of rupees, enviable influence with the government or the position of a Governor General, if your heart does not throb with peace or your mind enjoys no tranquillity then what is the value of all your money, influence and position ? Absence of peace is misery, absence of peace is all trouble and the same is the destroyer of all joy and happiness. All material happiness ends in annihilation of peace, and hence it is avoidable like a thorn or poison.
Spiritual happiness does never lead to misery as happiness is the very nature of spiritual soul. One's own nature cannot grant misery to one's own self. We tremble with fear at the sight of a lion but the lion is absorbed in its own self. Happiness or bliss is the intrinsic nature of soul and therefore Atmananda, Sahajanansda, Sachchidananda are the various epithets of soul. Have you ever thought over the significance of these epithets ? Sachchidananda means Sat (truth) chit means (consciousness-life) and Ananda means (highest joy or bliss). Soul is Sat i.e., it exists as a matter of fact. It is not a fiction. You must have very well borne in mind our arguments justifying the existence of soul. Soul is possessed of