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Chapter 5: Pupil's First Doubt regarding Existence of the Soul
It does not come within sight, its form is not seen, nor does it come to
the experiential level; therefore there is no such thing as a soul.
Explanation & Discussion:
It will be noticed that the pupil here raises certain basic questions, which could arise to any thinking person. He has learnt that perceiving, knowing, and experiencing are the principal attributes of the soul. His doubts are centered on these. Perception implies visibility. Most of the worldly objects are visible. Our knowledge therefore generally rests on what we see. If something is not visible, we usually remain ignorant of it and if some one tells us about its existence, we have doubt about it.
The pupil doubts the existence of the soul, because it is not visible. Moreover, it is not possible to know it by any other means, because no form is attributed to it. The pupil argues that even if the soul is accepted as formless and shapeless and hence invisible to the eyes, it should be experienced by some other organ. We should be able to experience it by touch, taste, smell, etc. But it is not experienced by any organ. In that case how can it be identified and how is it possible to believe in its existence without identification? The pupil therefore argues that these are the reasons to think that the soul does not exist.
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