I am The Soul Part 02

Author(s): Tarulatabai Mahasati
Publisher: Shri Gujarati Shwetambar Sthanakwasi Jain Association

Page 75

I am the Soul
permanence in that state. Thus the state of true natural disposition is also eternal.
If we were to consider another angle, then the true form of the atma is knowledge. This attribute of knowledge is also eternal. As a result of this attribute of knowledge, all jivas have the ability to know and sense or feel. The attribute of knowledge in all jivas, from uni-sensory to penta-sensory, is always functional. We have seen insects like ants, flies and mosquitoes suffer with agony. From this we can deduce that they are able to sense sorrow. This sensitivity is not available to inanimate things. for there is no attribute of knowledge in them.
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The sensation that occurs on account of the attribute of knowledge, is on all three planes of body, mind and spirit. We all experience that we have felt both happiness and sorrow of the body and mind, but we have not known spiritual sensation.
So long as Right Faith (Samyag Darshan) is not attained, the Jiva can recognise the sensation of only body and mind, but once he attains bheda-vijnana he begins to believe in the bliss of the true form of the self- atma, experiences the intoxication of the bliss of the Self. This is the sensation of spiritual bliss. In the same way, spiritual sorrow can also be felt! How is that? If the true nature of the soul is happiness and only happiness, how can there be a sensation of sorrow?
Look! A jiva has attained samakit - equanimity, and is enjoying the joy of the atma. He is also on the path of progressive graduation of the soul through devoted practice. But such a jiva has the urge to progress more. If, in spite of a tremendous effort, progress is not attained, then there is a grief in the soul. If the jiva is at the fourth gunasthana and cannot reach the sixth or seventh gunasthana then there is grief in the soul. For those who have reached there, not reaching the twelfth gunasthana causes grief. This grief that remains is the sensation of spiritual sorrow.
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