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Doubting the Soul...
Only that Jiva who is aware that he is himself the spirit- animate, can pursue the devotion of the three gems. The feelings of devotion can arise only in chaitanya (animate) and not in jada (inanimate). Jada and chaitanya are both totally different. Those characteristics which are in the chaitanya will not be in jada and vice versa.
From the physical point of view, there may well be many similarities, but the specific ability of knowing the existence of the Self is different in both. In 'Natak Samaysar’, the great poet Banarsidas has very clearly explained the characteristics of jiva and ajiva -
समता रमता उरधता ज्ञायकता सुखभास
acara HRTAT I ha uita familh ... Equanimity, engrossment in the true form of the Self, elevation in to the true disposition of the Self, knowing, feeling the infinite bliss, sensitivity to happiness and sorrow, constant animation - all these are characteristics of the jiva.
तनता मनता वचनता जडता जडसम्मेल
Ayat Utiel 74461 Tetria a tot...
Taking the form of body, mind and speech, inanimate state which also results in the inanimate, lightness, heaviness and momentum - all these are characteristics of the ajiva.
This same matter is told by Srimadji in the 'Atmasiddhi Shastra'. The misconception in the disciple that body is the soul, creates in him doubts about the existence and the independent existence of the atma. This is the major mistake of the jiva. Unless and until atma's difference from the body and the like is understood, true faith does not arise. Due to the awakening of darshanmoha the true form of the Soul does not become apparent. That is why the benevolent Gurudev explains the same matter in various different ways. He says -
जड चेतननो भिन्न छे, केवळ प्रगट स्वभाव; G4U và Tết, đi hia 4 Ta ..... 9
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