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PHILOSOPHY OF SOUL
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cannot derive such benefits. The jain lay disciple formerly showed great deal of interest in matters of philosophy and put forth subtle questions before the preceptor. The guru or the religious preacher was pleased to reply to such questions. The preceptor would certainly be pleased if the householders are anxious for the knowledge of philosophy.
We told the gentleman it is true that the Soul is characterised by knowledge and therefore, it can cognise a thing properly but in the beginning in the state of Nigoda- it is enveloped with gross ignorance. Its knowledge equivalent to the infinite-part of the immutable, remains revealed and therefore, it is not in a state capable of any kind of thinking. Thereafter when karmic bondages are loosened without any intentional effort then its knowledge becomes more and more manifested, till when it assumes human existence in which it is possessed of the power of reflection and consequently possessed of the power of discrimination of right and wrong or proper and improper.
Gentleman, you know that inspite of possessing such wonderful power of reflection most of the people do not realise wherein lies their welfare, and they act under their whim. If the human being only realises that Karma is not his wealth but it is the army of his fierce foes which would undoubtedly ruin him then he would refrain from contracting Karmas and if at all he cannot refrain from contracting karmas he would contract them not so rigidly to avoid forthcoming miseries. What a pitiable situation if the human beings cannot avoid some thing which is totally ruinous to the best of their knowledge.
SON OF A WEALTHY MAN WHO LOST HIS LIFE FOR A PINCH OF SALT
A wealthy man's son was ill and it was felt that his illness was fatal. The relatives began to worry. In the meanwhile someone said that a mendicant staying at some distance would cure the boy. The relatives rushed to the mendicant and requesting him brought him to the spot. The mendicant agreed to give medicine to cure him with a condition that the boy should never taste salt for the rest of his life. They were prepared to save the boy at any cost and so they agreed to the condition. The medicine was given and the boy was saved. The boy consumed all types of eatables
