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178
Gandhi's Teachers : Rajchandra Ravjibhai Mehta
(spiritual steps), as those lead to noble thoughts, true knowledge, and show liberation path. Conception of soul as revealer of own right faith and explorer of own liberation path has also been indicated.20 Lord Krishna reveals to Arjuna in Bhagavad-Gita that soul is its own enemy or friend depending on whether it tries or does not try to find own liberation path.” Citing ancient literature by Shri Kunda Kundacharya (e.g., Panchastikaya Gutha), Shri Nemi Chandra Siddhanta Chakravarti (e.g., Dravya Sangraha), and more recent writings of Rajchandra (e.g., Atma-Siddhi), J. L. Jaini claims that the entire fundamental position of Jainism is summarized in these verses.22
Does Soul Exist?
(Verses 45-59) The pupil expresses doubt in these verses that which cannot be seen, has no form, is not distinguishable, and cannot be experienced is only spoken of as soul but does not exist. Or else if soul exists, it is the same as the body, the life force, and the senses. There is no sign that soul is different from them. If soul is different from the body, then why a person cannot so experience it? If it is as it is described, then why can't we know it like we do pots, clothes, etc.? Therefore, there is no soul and the tradition of finding liberation of soul is futile. O true teacher, please try to effectively remove this inner doubt of mine.
The true teacher says that because of their close association body and soul look as if the same but are not so. The two are separate, for their characteristics are distinct, just as the sword is sure separate from its sheath. The distinguishing characteristics of soul are that it sees all with own sight, knows all by itself, takes all kinds of forms, and experiences all without any problem. Each bodily sense has knowledge of own faculty, but soul has the knowledge of all the sense faculties. This fact is neither known to the body, nor to the life force, and nor to the senses. It is the soul, which supplies power to the body and enables the senses to engage in own
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