Atmatatva Vichar Or Philosophy Of Soul

Author(s): Vijaylakshmansuri, Ghanshyam Joshi, Kirtivijay Gani
Publisher: Mohanlal D Mehta

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PREFACE
The book displays the deep study of Jain Religion and Philosophy by His Holiness Shri Vijay Laxman Suriswarji Maharaj who has travelled on his religious mission throughout India.
The way of life in practising the principle of ahimsa-non killing is the soul or foundation of Jain Religion which alone has treated all animal world from giant to microbe on equal footing and on the treatment of live and let live". Man is a rational being and the religion of soul, is entrusted to the man to practise most Ahimsa, in practising Dharma, the way of life.
In the present 20th century on account of Ahimsa being favoured to its practical extremes in life, Jain Religion has been attracting more and more attention of the world of scholars and people in general in this country and in the world of the West. It is no doubt a good sign for humanity but in the present age of materialism enhanced by industrial aspects of life it is extremely important to show to the world by discourses, by books, and by lectures how the man's life is and how he has to leave behind every aspect of glory and wealth after death. The effects of life on man and the future results under which his bonded soul has to begin new life are made the subject matter of philosophy of life and soul by many renowned sages and Acharyas for the benefit of every emperor, every king, every queen, every multi-millionaire and every man, woman and child who has to travel through this span of life. Every man is connected not only with a fellow human being, but has to deal with the world of animals, world of insects, world of microbes invisible and also has to steer himself through the inevitable contacts with inanimate things which are spread everywhere on land, water and in the air; and very often in the severity of extreme heat and extreme cold presented by the elements.
In such environment lives the human being and other living beings amongst the inanimate world known in general as Matter. His Holiness in his learned discourses has shown that Ahimsa the cult of non-killing is the guilding principle of the soul for its evolution in man's life from birth to death. The soul of a man contained in his body has a bondage of Matter known as Karma. This matter is of two kinds, good and evil, which causes the bodied soul to work in accordance with the effects of these Karmic bondages which are