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Gandhi's Teachers : Rajchandra Ravjibhai Mehta
qualities, and attributes of soul in its conditioned and liberated states.S1
Soul is Ever-Present
This spiritual step is correlative of the first one that soul exists and one main proof of the existence of soul is taken as presence of consciousness in the beings. Consciousness is described somewhat differently in Hinduism, Buddhism, and Jainism and Jain tradition propounds that consciousness can not be created through any combinations of matter. Whatever can not be created through combinations of matter, can not destruct into anything else. Also, only soul knows itself and sees itself and other objects simultaneously. It is both subject and object of conation and knowledge. Whether the beings are liberated (Siddhas) or bonded (Samsari), soul is the same in everyone and it is eternal and ever-present. The liberated beings are free from the fruits of actions. They are also free from bodily ailments, like disease, old age, and mental disturbances. Bonded beings suffer from delusional knowledge and propensities and thus get wrapped with karmic matter. Accordingly, they transmigrate from one birth to another in order to enjoy or suffer the fruits of their actions. Hindu. Buddhist, and Jain traditions lay out paths for the liberation of soul, as has been indicated earlier. 52
Soul is Doer
In the bonded state soul is doer of karmas and carries with it subtle propensities, thoughts, and feelings (karana kaya :) at the time of death. In the next birth, these subtle propensities, thoughts, and feelings become the basis of another physical body as well as initial orientations for actions of the beings. These orientations change according to the undertaken karmas in present life. Soul only indirectly engages in karmas and uses intelligence, mind, body, senses, and faculties as instruments for actions.54 Soul is situated in
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