Gandhis Teachers Rajchandra Ravjibhai Mehta

Author(s): Satish Sharma
Publisher: Gujarat Vidyapith Ahmedabad

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Gandhi's Teachers : Rajchandra Ravjibhai Mehta
its characteristics because it is permanent and eternal. "Eternal" is that substance which is not created by the processes of integration and disintegration. There is nothing to show that soul has been created by any such processes. We may make thousands of combinations and permutations of material objects, but it is impossible to create consciousness. It is common experience that if a particular characteristic is wanting in a substance, it cannot be created by undergoing it through innumerable combinations and permutations. Thus material objects like pots, tables etc., which are devoid of consciousness, can never be made to yield consciousness whatever way they are changed or processed. All these things will only result in producing objects of the same materialistic order. It is thus established that soul, which is characterized by the wise as a conscious substance, cannot be created from material objects like earth, water, air, and space etc. The particular characteristic of soul is consciousness. Where it is not found or which is devoid of it, that, of course, is a material substance. Animate and inanimate, both are eternal entities. Besides the above, there are other methods also for proving the eternity and immortality of soul. If you just ponder deep, you yourself can well realize the permanence of soul. There is no harm or objection in doing so, rather it carries you to truth, to accept the fact that the feelings of pleasure and pain, the desire of getting free from them, thoughts and inspirations etc. are all experiences due to the existence of soul and that soul is primarily a conscious entity. Since such conscious feeling, willing, and knowing are always present in soul, therefore it is eternal. For a clear understanding of such philosophical questions, it is advisable for you to first read Shaddarshan-Samuchchaya,'' which is being sent.
(2) The soul in its pure conscious state, i.e. in the state of self-realization, is the creator of its own inherent characteristics of knowledge, perception, and smadhi.20 But in the state of ignorance, the soul becomes a creator of emotions like anger, conceit, greed etc. that are all foreign to it. Not only this much, under the influence of these emotions, soul,