Atmatatva Vichar Or Philosophy Of Soul

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

Page 36

PHILOSOPHY OF SOUL
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therein, such a statement would be unreliable. Similarly, if soul is not found in a piece of body it is absurd to believe that the soul does not exist."
King :-Oh Lord, the belief that the body and soul are one and the same entities is not mine but was held even by my grand father and father. This is my hereditary belief, how can I disown this belief?
Acharya :-Oh King, If you do not disown this conviction, then you will have to repent like one obstinate fellow who did not disown a heap of iron bars.
The King :--Who was that obstinate fellow and why he repented ? Acharya :-Oh King, some persons desirous of wealth started for journey in a forest, with provisions. They found a mine with abundant iron. They mutually talked about the usefulness of iron and so they thought it advisable to carry the iron with them in heaps. With the heaps of iron, they proceeded further in the forest where again they found a mine of lead. Lea more useful than iron, all of them let off iron and prepared heaps of lead to carry along. But one fellow did not like to let off the iron bundle. His companions persuaded him much and he replied, “This bundle I have carried for a long distance. It is well tied up, so I do not want to leave it and take to the bundle of lead bars." Now the band of travellers proceeded further to find mines of copper, silver, gold, jewels and diamonds one after the other. They let off less valuable and took to more valuable things. Later on, they arrived in a city where they sold very precious diamonds. This made them very rich and they began to stay happily. That obstinate fellow sold his iron bars and earned little money. He was very sorry and he began to think, "I also could have earned ample wealth if like my companions I let off iron bars and preferred more valuable things." Thus Oh King, if you do not let off your obstinacy you will also repent like the fellow who carried the iron bars.
This preaching of the monk Shri Keshikumar convinced the king about independent existence of Soul and that the Soul enjoys fruits of good and bad actions without fail. The king undertook the observance of 'Twelve Vows' and he carried out their observance according to the prescribed rites. Now as he was perfectly inclined to spiritualism he was disgusted with worldly pleasures. His