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10. Three types of soul: external, internal and supreme
Jain texts talk of three types of soul namely; external (bahir tm ), internal (antar tm ) and supreme (param tm ).
External: The self that thinks that the body it owns is the soul is deluded and ignorant [20] Internal: The self that understands its nature properly is with right vision and faith[21]
Supreme: The self that is completely detached from external impurities and is omniscient. Supreme soul is of two types namely with physical body (known as Arhanta) and without physical body (known as Siddha). [22]
Status as external soul is to be eliminated; that of internal soul is good and the status of supreme soul is the aim to be realized.
11. Summary
To conclude, we see that Jain philosophy has detailed spiritual and logical explanation of soul. Jain thinkers have proved the existence of soul, synonyms of soul, its types and sub types, nature of self, need to experience the self and detailed the ways to do so. There are infinite living beings in this cosmos and each one is soul/ self just for itself. Everyone can become supreme soul by giving up its status of external soul, moving to the status of internal soul and then meditating upon it. Once we achieve the status of supreme soul, then we can get out of the cycle of birth-death i.e. sa s ra and enjoy our nature of knowledge and bliss (jn n anda) forever.
12. Recommended books for further reading
Samaya s ra, Niyama s ra, Pa c stik ya
Dravya Sa graha
Param tmaprak a
Şa dar anasamuccaya
Sy dv damanjari Structure and function of soul in Jainism Jain Dar ana mein tma vic ra
crya Kunda Kunda
crya Nemi Candra Yogindu Deva
c rya Hari Bhadra S ri
c rya Malli e a
Dr S.C.Jain Bhartiya Gyanpeeth, Delhi Dr L.C.Jain PVR Instt Varanasi
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SORS OF JAN
SOUL
SANSARI/EMPIRICAL
PURE
• INFINITE KNOWLEDGE
LIMITED BY KARMIK VEIL
• INFINITE PERCEPTION
LIMITED BY KARMIK VEIL
• INFINITE CONDUCT (DETACHMENT) AFFECTED BY ACTIVE KARMAS
• INFINITE POWER
LIMTED BY KARMIKA VEIL
• INFINITE BLISS
• NO BODY
DEPENDS ON ACTIVE KARMAS OWNS AT LEAST THREE BODIES LIFE SPAN, ASSOCIATED BODY
• NO BIRTH OR DEATH
STUDY NOTES version 4.0
