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visualize the former experience of walking? Of course, yes. It means that the experience of 'I used to walk' was not associated with the legs. We can therefore eliminate the legs as being 'I'.
Now take another example. I might have an infection in a finger which needs to be cut off in order to prevent spreading of the infection. After healing can I visualize how much pain I had experienced? Of course, yes. As such, we have to eliminate the finger as having the sense of 'I'.
If we continue that process of elimination, it would be seen that none of the limbs or any part of the body, with which we normally associate the sense of 'mine', is the experiencer. It means that the act of identifying 'I' with the body is misplaced. The real 'I' is the invisible experiencer that stays within and which continues to function irrespective of any physical loss, handicap, or disability. That experiencer is the soul.
Chhe Indriy Pratyekane, Nij Nij Vishayanun Jnän; Pänch Indrinä Vishayanun, Pan Ätmäne Bhän.
Each sense has the knowledge of its own subject matter; but soul knows the subject matters of all five senses. (52)
Explanation & Discussion:
The pupil had pointed out that the soul can be analogous to the sense organs. That analogy arises, because the worldly soul is used to identifying itself with the sense organs. Different living beings can have one or more (up to five senses. Humans are blessed with all the five. The capability of each sense organ is, however, restricted to the object of that sense only. The tongue has the capability to taste, but it cannot smell, see, or hear; the nose can smell, but it cannot taste, see, or hear. Similarly the eyes can only see and ears can only hear. Moreover, those seeing and hearing capabilities are limited to specific wave lengths of light or sound. Every sense organ has thus limited capability. If the soul is identified with the sense organs, it would also have the limited capability to know and that too subject to possessing the sense organs.
That is, however, not in conformity with the nature of soul; it has infinite capability to perceive and to know. It has the capability to know the subjects of all five senses, individually or collectively, regardless of the sense organs. That capability is not fully manifested at present, because it stands obscured and obstructed on account of the impact of various Karmas. The purpose of spiritual pursuit is to eradicate the bondage of those Karmas and to manifest the full capability of the soul.
Deh Na Jäne Tehane, Jäne Na Indri, Prän; Atmäni Sattä Vade, Teh Pravarte Jän.
The body does not know that; neither do the senses, nor the breath; the knowing capability prevails on account of the presence of soul. (53)
Explanation & Discussion:
