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Chapter 8
Guru's Explanation of the Soul's Everlastingness (Second Fundamental)
In the last chapter, the pupil raised his doubts about the everlastingness of the soul. Of course, the Guru has heard such arguments before. They are therefore not new to him. He is aware of the philosophies of Chärväk (nonexistence of the soul) and Buddhism (transient or nonpermanent nature of the soul). He knows that Buddhism has apparently a strong case and most of the spiritual aspirants would stumble on that issue. He is therefore going to address all the relevant aspects to show where those philosophies are one-sided and incomplate. The following nine stanzas are meant to establish the eternity of the soul and to dispel all doubts about its impermanence.
Ätmasiddhi
Jain Education International
દેહ માત્ર સંયોગ છે, વળી જડ રૂપી દૃશ્ય; ચેતનનાં ઉત્પત્તિ લય, કોના અનુભવ વશ્ય?
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Deh Mätra Sanyog Chhe, Vali Jad Roopi Drashya; Chetananä Utpatti Lay, Konä Anubhav Vashya?
The body is a mere composition; it is lifeless, has a form, and is visible; on whose experience do emergence and extinction of consciousness rest?
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