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the attribute of 'I' consciousness. Therefore, when you doubt the very existence of 'I', you doubt your own self. Because, the moment you doubt your own self, you doubt your own existence. However, you do exist. Therefore, the doubter of your doubts is your 'self, your 'soul'. Soul exists because 'I' exists and 'I' exists because 'doubt' exists."
"Again, it is many a times seen that the attributes such as memory, perception, sensation etc. are absent even when the body is present and in a living condition. This proves that these attributes are not of the body.'
"It is found that the body gets consciousness only in association with the soul and without the soul, it is dead as wood. Hence consciousness is 'soul'."
The dialogue, which proceeded further, left Indrabhuti Gautam fully convinced about the existence of soul and he became the principal disciple of Bhagawän Mahävir.
Similarly, Bhagawan Mahavir completely removed the doubts of the other ten Brahmin scholars and they all became his disciples. These eleven are called Ganadhars as they were appointed as the first heads of different groups of monks. Bhagawän Mahävir survived all of them except the first Ganadhar Indrabhuti Gautam and the fifth one, Sudharmä. It is significant that all these first principal disciples were Brahmins of great repute and learning which shows that the silent ideological revolution had already started in the intelligentsia of the time.
Six Fundamentals by Shrimad Räjchandra:
The letter by Shrimad Räjchandra on the six fundamental truths explains the subject in a concise manner yet in simple language.
Shri Lalluji Mahäräj, being sick in Surat, requested Samädhi (Yogic concentration, state of nonattachment, absorbed in Soul) Maran (death) from Shrimad. In reply, Shrimad wrote the famous letter of the six fundamental truths, and inspired Lalluji Mahäräj not to fear death. This letter is the theme of which "Ätmasiddhi-shästra" is the development. Shri Lalluji Mahäräj appreciates this letter as follows:
"This letter has helped us to remove all our stray ideas and wandering thoughts, and has removed our doubts, confirmed our faith in the fundamentals of Jainism and the nature and development of soul." The letter is as follows:
With intense devotion, I bow to the true Guide, the bestower of unique refuge.
Those enlightened, who have attained true knowledge of Self, have described the following six fundamentals as the supreme abode of right faith.
Soul Exists - First fundamental:
'There is an existence of the soul'. As there is an existence of physical objects like pot, cloth, etc., so is the existence of soul. As the properties of pot, cloth, etc. are the evidence of their existence, so the obvious property of consciousness to manifest itself as well as others is the evidence of the existence of soul.
Soul is Eternal - Second fundamental:
'The soul is eternal'. A pot or a cloth stays as such for some time; but the soul stays forever. The pot and cloth are composed of some materials, but the soul is a substance on its own because it is not possible to produce a soul. Consciousness cannot arise out of any composition, so it is not a product. Because the soul is not created, it is nonperishable. As what cannot be produced cannot merge into anything else. Soul is the Doer of its Action - Third fundamental:
"The soul is the doer (Kartä)'. All objects are associated with purposeful activity. All of them are seen with some or the other process that causes alterations. The soul also is imbibed with activity. Having the actuation, it is Kartä. The omniscient Bhagawäns have described three types of such actuation. In the absolute state when the soul stays tuned to its pure nature, it is the Kartä of that nature; in normal
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