________________
Bhagwan Mahavir ]
[ 389
Jiva is Body and Body is Jiva, because you cannot find any perceptible proof about their separate existence. You think that just as bubbles are produced by water and again disappear in water, similarly the Soul is produced by body and again disappears in it. But this absolute view is wrong, for every body knows and feels more or less that Jiva is separate from body and senses. when the senses lose their power and do not work properly, the Jiva feels this and says, ' Such and such of my senses have become disabled. They cannot work properly, and so on,' The very word "My senses," My body," 'My mind," etc. show that the "I" which says so is different from the body, senses, and mind.
46
सत्येन लभ्यस्तपसा ह्येष ब्रह्मचर्येण नित्यं ज्योतिर्मयो हि शुद्धोऽयं पश्यन्ति धीरास्तं तपःसयतात्मानः इत्यादि ।
This passage occuring in the Veda correctly means as follows:-This pure soul which is nothing but light can be realised by means of Truth, Penance and Piety." Therefore it is proved that Soul is separate from the Pancha-Bhutas (the 5 elements). Hence your doubt is baseless and meaningless. At this, the heart of Vayubhuti began to throb with joy. The Lord had not only known his name and place but had also removed his doubt without his disclosing it to him The instructions of the Lord had purified his Soul, as a consequence of which he attained Right Knowledge. Soon after this, a feeling of renunciation arose in his heart, and, like his two elder brothers, he, too, prayed to the Lord for consecration. Lord Mahavira accordingly consecrated him with his five hundred disciples. These three brothers became the chief disciples of the Lord and began to preach his principles.
Jain Education International
For Private & Personal Use Only
www.jainelibrary.org
