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destroyed. The pupil therefore argues that the soul also must be subject to the same process of destruction. He has now no doubt about its existence; but he feels that the soul might be arising with the formation of the body and might be destroyed at the time of death.
The pupil's argument is similar to Chärväk's point of view. Chärväk was an atheist, who did not believe in the existence of soul or God. He believed in living merrily as long as one survives. This can be seen from the following slogan of his philosophy:
Yävat Jivam Sukham Jivet, Runam Krutvä Dhrutam Pibet; Bhasmibhutasya Dehasya, Punarägamanam Kutah?
It means: Live happily so long as you are alive; enjoy the rich foods even by incurring debt; how is the body, which is turned into ashes, going to come back?
But the pupil is not an atheist and does not believe in the philosophy of Chārvāk. His purpose is to know the truth so that he can undertake the spiritual pursuit without having any doubt. He therefore presents the problems arising in the mind with a view to obtaining clarification.
Athavä Vastu Kshanik Chhe, Kshane Kshane Palatäy; E Anubhavathi Pan Nahin Ätmä Nitya Janäy.
Alternately, every thing is ephemeral and undergoes change every moment; that experience also precludes the eternity of soul. (61)
Explanation & Discussion:
The pupil presents another argument based on every day experience. It is our experience that everything goes on changing. New things get old; they are torn, worn, broken, divided, transformed, decomposed etc. The change and transformation is thus the law of nature. Nothing stays in the same form and changes occur every moment. When that is the general experience, how is it possible to believe that the soul does not undergo change and stays in the same form forever? It must also be undergoing change.
This doubt of the pupil is similar to the belief of Buddhism. Lord Buddha had propounded that everything is transitory; nothing stays forever and continual change is the order of the universe. He therefore argued against the eternity of anything and refused to accept the everlastingness of soul. To most of the people, that theory seemed reasonable and in accordance with their experience. Millions of people therefore adopted it and became the followers of Buddha.
