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 258

PHILOSOPHY OF SOUL
235
Hellish age determines the birth of a Soul in hell and that Soul has to live the life of a denizen in hell. Divine being, a humanbeing and an animal, love their life and so these three types of lives or ages are considered inauspicious.
You might argue that even as a human being many people crave for death, then in that case why their life should not be considered inauspicious, but as human being there are very few persons who crave for death. They generally crave for death only in miserable condition. No sooner does their misery disappear and happiness appear, than they change their decision and begin to love life very dearly. Thus only hellish beings do not like to live.
THE TALE OF A WOOD-CUTTER CRAVING FOR DEATH
Once upon a time there was a wood-cutter, who toiled for the day and could hardly earn his maintenance by selling wooden pieces in the market. He did not own any property and had not enough clothing to cover his person. He only had a loin cloth. He lived in an old hut, outside the village.
At the age of eighty, he was much emaciated and could not work. Then he cried in the jungle, praying to God, “Oh! God, I shall be much obliged if you send me death."
In the forest there was a tamarind tree, haunted by a spirit. Such a spirit we understand as a kind of God known as Vyantar. Such a god is happier than a human being as he has no worries. They have beautiful nymphs to enjoy with and they live at least for ten thousand years.
This spirit heard the request of the wood-cutter and he decided to test him. A spirit could assume any form in a moment. He assumed dreadful form of a devil, and he appeared before the woodcutter. He was very much frightened still with all the courage he asked, "Who are you?”
The devil replied, "I am death wanted by you. I am sent by God.” Old man never thought that death would arrive so promptly and in that manner. He was much perplexed. Anyway, he did not want to die so early. So he gave a very ingenious reply, thus“There was no one here to help me, to lift this heap of logs. I knew that death is Omnipresent, so I requested god to send to me death