Atmatatva Vichar Or Philosophy Of Soul

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

Page 12

PREFACE
ix
inherited by the deeds, good and bad, committed in the last birth. Thus a man's life consists of deeds, good and evil, giving effect to the bondages, good, and evil, on the bodied soul. Every action, every thought or every utterance or the three working together cause action and reaction to attract good or evil Karmic particles into the body binding the soul as stated above. And this process goes on for ever and has been going on from the period without beginning and will continue indefinitely without the end. In this way the cycle of birth and rebirth of the bodied soul with its Karmic bondages continue for ever putting the human being to the grief and comfort which are determined in accordance with the good and evil effects of the Karmic Matter.
There is no end to this indefinite cycle of birth and rebirth and the consequent suffering of the body and soul. The Karmic bondages make the soul suffer though it appears that the body suffers. But the body without soul is lifeless and therefore, in reality it is the soul which suffers. The so called happiness in life is not real and lasting and does not give real comfort to the soul and to the man. Such happiness is short living and transitory. It is the result of good deed of man by which good Karmic bondages bind the soul issuing forth so-called happiness to the body and mind.
In Jain religion all good and bad deeds reacting on the individual soul in the body are serious subject matters of philosophy. Therefore it is important to know what Jain Religion is, what it stands for in man's life, what its object is in its philosophical teaching and the ways prescribed in order to achieve ultimate object in life.
Jain Religion is preached by Jain Saints for the followers of their preachings who are called Jains. As such a Jain is a follower of the religion preached by a Jina who has conquered completely all the desires arising out of senses by self-restraint in life. A Jina in common is a Jain Muni of the highest order known as Tirthankar. Even a Jain Muni or a Saint who has conquered all senses thereby attaining supreme knowledge of the past, present and future may be understood as a Jina for practical purpose. The last Tirthankar of this millennium was Lord Mahavir who existed in the 6th Century The First in the order was Lord Adinath otherwise known as Lord Rishabha whose period is considered millions of old.
B.C.
years