________________
PHILOSOPHY OF SOUL
249
Reply :-The soul in Nigoda remaining almost unconscious does get reflections. If there are no reflections no distinction would lie between conscious and unconscious entity. These reflections continue to confine the soul in bondage. We would like to clarify one point at this juncture that the soul born in Nigoda condition also entertains reflections and in higher births like one-sensed and five sensed creatures the soul certainly entertains reflections. Only the soul in dispassionate state does not entertain reflections.
Question :-Is there any evidence to prove that vegetable has reflections ?
Reply :-Our scriptures lay down that vegetables do possess reflections and this is by itself a strong evidence. Even if you require temporal evidence it is also available. Sir Jagdishchandra Bose, the scientist of International repute has proved with experiments that vegetable entertains feelings of joy, sorrow, fear and worries as we do, and these feelings also affect their conduct of life. Feelings cannot evolve without reflections. Therefore it implies that vegetable also has reflections.
Question :- Whether animals have auspicious reflections ?
Reply :--Yes. Animals also have auspicious reflections when proper circumstances to that effect arise. There are many illustrations in the scriptures which support the contention above-mentioned. We shall quote one illustration.
Nand Maniyar was a man of righteous conduct but later on he left the contact of the monks and contracted friendship with persons, of evil conduct. Thus he practised mean conduct in life. He thought that soul could attain emancipation by giving in charity food water etc. and erecting wells for the needy. For spiritual uplift one should feed the hungry and offer water to the thirsty. If one cherishes to break off the fetters of Karma then one should practise self-restraints and austerities but Nanda had no faith in such practices. According to his belief he got erected a beautiful lake surrounded by a park and a lodging house for the poor. Gradually he entertained attachment for the said lake and at the time of death his mind was totally engrossed in reflections about the said beautiful lake therefore after death, he was born as a frog in the well. That frog lived upon moss and passed his
