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As stated above, all the objects that we come across have been continually undergoing transformation. The old forms disappear and the new ones come into being. Similarly the existing compositions are decomposed and the new ones take their place. Every existing form thus gives place to a new one and no form stays forever. Some of the transformations, like withering of flowers, are evident; while others, like aging, come to our notice after a long time. But the process is continuing every moment. Jainism conceives of Samay as the smallest unit of time, which is the infinitesimal part of a second. It is therefore said that every form gives place to a new one in each Samay.
Such transformation occurs in the case of objects, which are formed by composition or combination. It does not occur in the case of natural substances, which are not subject to composition or combination. Such substances cannot be produced, nor can they be destroyed. They can neither arise out of any combination, nor would they merge in anything else. The soul is such an original substance. It does not undergo any transformation and stays the same forever.
In this connection it would be of interest to refer to what Shrimad has said in the Letter of Six Fundamentals (Appendix-II). It states: "A pot, or cloth stays as such for a while, but the soul stays forever. Pot, cloth, etc. are composed of some materials; but the soul is a substance on its own, because no composition can be envisaged for producing the soul. Consciousness cannot arise out of any composition, so it is not a product. Since it cannot be composed, it has to be imperishable, because what cannot be produced by any composition cannot be decomposed, nor can it merge with anything else."
Krodhädi Tartamyatä, Sarpädikani Mänya; Poorva Janma Sanskär Te, Jiv Nityatä Tyänya
Snakes and such other creatures have varying degrees of fury, etc.; such traits are derived from previous births; that shows the eternity of soul. (67)
Explanation & Discussion:
In this stanza the Guru points to the existence of previous births as the evidence for everlastingness of soul. This aspect has been scientifically explored by now and it has been found that in several cases the information about the previous lives was incontrovertible.
It is also noticed that snakes, scorpions, and such other creatures are furious. Their fury is not learnt by them in the current life. Similarly who could have taught a dog to bark or a donkey to brag? They possess those traits from the birth and hence could have been brought forth from an earlier life. In other words, the soul concerned must have acquired those traits, while it was in another body during a previous life. That is the evidence of the soul migrating from one body to another. It can therefore be clear that while changing the body from birth to birth, the soul continues to exist.
There are many people, who refuse to believe in a previous life. If they try to observe the nature, they can notice the innumerable living beings with different forms and
