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I am the Soul
somebody dies, they say that person 'got back'. Nice way of putting it, isn't that?
The Karma philosophy also says the same thing, and that is how it is. 'Getting back' means to say that the fellow has been reborn somewhere here. Where else to go? For these are the surroundings where his love lies. Objects are unlimited and he has died carrying the desire to enjoy them all. That means he has to 'get back' to enjoy them. The wheel of repeated births and deaths here will keep turning.
One complete life span was spent in enjoying so much, but did that really satiate? Did anything come out of having spent so much time and energy? It does not satiate, the fire of dissatisfaction always remains smouldering. Even after receiving all that was desired, and enjoying all that was received, this dissatisfaction does not allow the Soul to rest in peace. Then why shouldn't we think there is apparently some shortcoming in the objects of passion, when even after enjoying them we do not become satisfied. If those objects are not capable of satiating, then who is?
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It seems as if there is some thing else, some other essence lying somewhere which might satiate the Jiva. What is this essence? When you begin to enquire, you realise that this essence is lying within us, nowhere else. Only when this essence within us become the centre of our attraction, can we turn to introspection. For this, belief is essential. A firm belief that 'I have not received any pleasure out of any external object and the affection towards any external object or any person is incapable of giving me happiness'. Mahayogi Anandghanji, who had experienced the soul, who had understood the essence within and even experienced it, has very beautifully explained it while establishing his affection for Rishabha -
प्रीत सगाई जग मां सहु करे रे, प्रीत सगाई न कोई, प्रीत सगाई निरुपाधिक कही रे, सोपाधिक धन खोई । ऋषभ जिनेश्वर प्रितम माहरो रे, ओर न चाहुँ कंत ॥
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