Book Title: Atmasiddhi
Author(s): Shrimad Rajchandra, Manu Doshi
Publisher: Manu Doshi

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Page 101
________________ Such ignorance arises on account of perception-deluding Karma, and in turn it becomes instrumental in acquiring new deluding Karma. Because of delusion one forsakes his true nature and identifies himself with the conditions that he gets from time to time. That false identification leads him to do what is not in the interests of his true well being. Such activity results in acquisition of Karma. So long as one indulges in craving and aversion or stays with ignorance, he is going to acquire new deluding Karma and the cycle of embodiment will continue to operate. When these three factors are overcome, one gains right perception. Thereby he is induced to overcome the character-related deluding Karma, and will adopt restraints. That is the path of liberation; that is the heart of Karma philosophy, which Shrimad has presented in this stanza. Atmä Sat Chaitanyamay, Sarväbhäs Rahit; Jethi Keval Pämiye, Mokshapanth Te Rit. The way, one can realize the pure, everlasting conscious soul, devoid of all illusions, constitutes the path of liberation. (101) Explanation & Discussion: Staying within the pure nature of soul constitutes liberation. Here Shrimad pinpoints Sat and Chaitanya as the main attributes of soul. Sat means everlasting. Whatever stays forever is therefore called Sat. It denotes eternal existence. Jainism describes six basic substances which stay forever. Of those six, we are concerned here with soul. It always continues to exist and retains its inherent nature. This is true even for the worldly souls. Such souls appear to be contaminated by Karma, but that contamination is a superficial temporary phenomenon. It is a Paryäy, a continually changing state, which does not affect the basic purity and inherent nature of soul. If the nature of soul could be contaminated, it could never get rid of it and hence can never be liberated. Since infinite souls have attained the liberation by eradicating the bondage of Karma, it is clear that the inherent nature of soul remains the same forever. Chaitanya denotes consciousness, which is the inherent property of soul. It indicates knowing capability. By virtue of consciousness the soul can exercise its vigor to know, and remains aware of itself as well as of others. Of all the six substances, only soul has this property of knowing. That property stays with it forever, because no substance can be devoid of its inherent property. In the case of the worldly souls, this property remains obscured on account of the impact of Karma. As such, its capability to know infinitely is not manifested. Every living being,

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