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

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Page 116
________________ Enlightenment: Infinite knowledge is a property of soul. It has the inherent capability to know everything. For that purpose it does not need to go to the objects that are to be known. Those objects are reflected in its knowing capability. It also does not need any external means for exercising its capability. Since that capability remains obscured by the knowledge-obscuring Karma, the soul conceives of itself as devoid of knowledge and tries to gain it with the help of sense organs. It tries to know a surface by the sense of touch, taste by the tongue, odor by the nose, sight by the eyes, and sound by the ears. That happens because the worldly soul has forsaken its infinite capability to know. That capability, however, stays within and can be experienced by getting rid of obscuring Karmas. Consciousness: This denotes the capability to remain aware. Awareness is the attribute that belongs only to soul. No other substance has awareness. Here the term used is Chaitanyaghan, which literally means concrete consciousness. The use of the term concrete may seem contradictory, because the consciousness is intangible and cannot be concrete. But the word concrete has been used here to convey that consciousness is pure, perfect, complete, solid (No room for impurity to get in), and abides in every part of soul. We become aware of whatever happens in any part of the body, because the soul pervades the entire body. The capability of awareness is not fully manifest at present because of the impact of Karma; but it can be fully experienced in the liberated state. Self-illumination: What shines by itself and does not need any other means for cognition is called self-illuminating. For instance, the sun is self-illuminating; no lamp is required to see the sunshine. We can make it out even from a corner of our house. Similarly soul is capable to know itself as well as other objects by virtue of its self-illumination. Abode of bliss: Happiness and bliss are the inherent characteristics of soul. No other substance has it; the true happiness lies within. Since it is not presently experienced, we try to get the happiness from outside. But such happiness is temporary and depends upon the external factors. It would disappear when those factors disappear or are removed. True happiness is transcendental. As such, one should stay away from all external factors and cultivate detachment towards all worldly objects. That is the way for attaining the transcendental happiness. Thereby one is enabled to abide in own purity; and that is the abode of bliss.

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