________________
I am the Soul
351
philosophy. From the viewpoint of dravya - substance - Jain philosophy believes that utma is eternal.
The Naiyayikas believe atma to be kutastha nitya - unchangingly eternal, that is, in which there will never be any change. It will remain as it is forever. But Jain philosophy, even after accepting the eternal nature of the atma according to niscaya naya, also believes atma to be impermanent and transitory according to vyavahara naya. These transitions are into both natural and affected disposition.
Consider this very important question in depth! We are humans - what is that? We have heard ever so often that the human life is the most superior and most difficult to attain. The belief that being born as humans is a great thing, is strongly embedded in our minds. But I say human life is the result of the aberration of the atma. Therefore, being born human is not the best thing! Would you accept this statement? Brothers! It does sound startling! What is this? All scriptures have said that human life is the best and how come you say it is not? Of course, compared to the life forms in deva, naraka or tiryancha gatis, the human life may be better, but the atma has to wander through the births only when it is tainted and affected by karma. And the human form of life is also a part of this wandering, hence it is an aberration. Atma, in its own true form is neither human, nor deva, naraki or pashu. It is but the soul in the pure eternal form. Then how can an aberration be termed superior? Therefore, the human life form which seems superior from one view, is an aberration from another. But yes, this was only the matter of the affected disposition of the atma. In spite of this, from the vyavaharik viewpoint it is a fact that human life form is superior.
The Naiyayikas believe the atma to be eternal, which is acceptable from the viewpoint of the supreme pure niscaya naya.
Jain Educationa international
For Personal and Private Use Only
www.jainelibrary.org
