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________________ karmic influence. In its pure and unconditioned state - the nirupādhi state - with no associated karmic contamination, the soul moves upward. As the soul is released from all karmas, it goes up to the end of the universe. Upward movement of liberated soul is explained in the Scripture as due to previous impetus, freedom from ties or attachment, snapping of bondage, and own nature of darting upward. Analogies for these four characteristics are: continued revolving of the potter-wheel due to previous impetus, gourd's coming up to the surface of the water as it gets devoid of mud, bursting out of the shell of the castor-seed as it breaks loose from confinement, and the upward tending of the flame of the candle. There is no movement possible in the non-universe (aloka) beyond the Siddha sila due to the absence of the medium of motion (dharma dravya). Conclusion The soul is knowledge, absolute and without differentiation. Destruction of ignorance (ajñāna) about the self is the fruit of all methods of knowledge. When the karmic clouds disperse gradually, self-knowledge increases in its brilliance and ultimately reaches its unmatched luminance. When such knowledge is obtained, it is self-realization. That self-born, perfect and pure knowledge is real happiness. It is not the body but the soul itself that develops happiness; its very nature. Sense organs are of foreign stuff; these can never be said to form the nature of the soul. With onset of self-knowledge, nescience gets destroyed and all that which pertains to the non-self disappears from reckoning. There is no more inflow of karmic matter, the previously bound karmas are destroyed and the soul regains its pristine nature. Always adore this knowledge, in this only always remain contented, and fulfilled. Following strict rules of discipline as well as observing austerities without the virtue of self-absorption are of no avail for acquisition of selfknowledge. The aspirant after liberation must discard all thought-activities and take shelter in the knowledge of the pure soul with firm and unshakeable conviction. Selfknowledge is the bright fire that burns material karmas to ashes and frees the soul from karmic bondage. Self-knowledge should be the foundation of all practices, rituals and conduct. The path to liberation unmistakably passes through self-knowledge. On destruction of darkness, that is ignorance, the self attains the power of discrimination between what needs to be accepted and rejected. Self-knowledge thus leads to the science-of-discrimination (bheda-vijñāna) - the soul is distinct from the matter and the matter is distinct from the soul. This is the quintessence of reality. All the rest of articulation is but an elaboration of the same. I make obeisance humble at the Holy Feet of the Omniscient Lord who has manifested pure consciousness that is born from the self by the self, comprehends fully (24)
SR No.269765
Book TitleSoul Substance Jiva Dravya As Expounded In Dravya Sangraha
Original Sutra AuthorN/A
AuthorVijay K Jain
PublisherVijay K Jain
Publication Year
Total Pages26
LanguageEnglish
ClassificationArticle
File Size882 KB
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