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________________ Shrimad Rajchandra Letter 530 115 even though it is still within this body, it can experience complete freedom and can witness itself as completely distinct from the body. Thus, a soul can definitely attain liberation while still associated with the body. Question 5 I have read that when a soul departs from this human form, its reincarnation could even be as an animal, a stone, a tree, etc. according to its karma. Is this true? Answer: When the soul departs this body, it reincarnates in accordance with its karma, and this could be as an animal, a plant or even a stone. In this state of earthen form, devoid of four of the five senses, it must bear the fruits of its actions. But just because it is reincarnated as a stone does not mean it is not a sentient being or that it has become inanimate. Even as a stone, the soul remains as a conscious entity. Because it is devoid of the four senses, it is considered to be a stone. At the end of its destined lifespan, after it has depleted the karma that caused it to be reincarnated as a stone, the soul departs from that body, and the stone remains behind as an inanimate object, just in the same way that a dead body lies rotting after the soul has departed from it. By the fruition of karma that causes a soul to be devoid of four senses and survive with just the one sense of touch, a soul is led to being reincarnated as a one-sensed life form, such as a stone. But at no point does it lose its sentience and become an inanimate object. Similarly, when a soul is reincarnated as an animal, it does not become an animal in totality. The external form is merely like donning a new piece of clothing, internally its fundamental nature remains unaffected.
| SR No. | 034032 |
| Book Title | Shrimad Rajchandra And Mahatma Gandhi |
| Original Sutra Author | N/A |
| Author | Kumarpal Desai |
| Publisher | Raj Saubhag Satsang Mandal |
| Publication Year | 2017 |
| Total Pages | 107 |
| Language | English |
| Classification | Book_English |
| File Size | 19 MB |