Indian Philosophy

Author(s): Sukhlal Sanghavi
Publisher: L D Indology Ahmedabad

Page 69

Consciousness is an Independent Entity
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from body there is another one that soul is non-different from body-this being the reason why the question concerned is inexplicable. From this it appears that to say that soul and body are non-different from one another is the very same thing as to say that soul is identical with body-of-theform-of-a-Physical-aggregate—which means that the former statement is a description of the doctrine that consciousness pertains to physical elements.
In the chapter Pundațīka-adhyayana of Sūtrakstānga the doctrine that soul is the same thing as body is elucidated by saying that just as one can show a sword seperately taking it out of the sword-case, or can show an ämalaka-fruit separately placing it on one's palm, or can show butter separately churning it out of curd aad oil pressing it out of sesamum-seeds similarly those who treat soul and body as absolutely different from one another cannot show a soul separately taking it out of body, Hence what. ever things is body is also sou).
It seems that both the above views related to the doctrine that cons. ciousness pertains to phyaical elements have remained preserved in later philosophical texts. Hence it is that after mentioning four physical elements in the aphorism prthivyāpastejovāyuriti tattvāni’ the doctrine that consciousness originates out of the four physical elements is found described through the aphorism "tebhyascaitanyam.' Similarly, in Tattvasangrahat aphorism kāyādeva caitanyam' is quoted in the form of a position maintajned by Kambajāśvatara. It is nossible that this very position maintained by Kambalāśvatara is identical with the doctrine that soul is the same thing as body. In Dighanikaya there is mentioned a materialist named Ajita Kesakambali while in Tattvasangraha there occurs the name of Kambalāśvatara. The noteworthy thing is that the word 'kam bala (=blarket) occurs in both these names. May be the sect upholding the position in questaion had sometbing to do with some type of a piece of blanket. Even today so many sects advocating the carrying of a piece of blanket are considerably current in this country. Be that as it may, the position in question must belong to a period earlier than that which witnessed the emergence of the doctrine that consciousness is an independent entity. Move Towards the Doctrine that Consciousness is an Independent Entity
However, as against this position the doctrine which posited rebirth, other-world and soul of the form of an independent entity was gaining great strength. It is of course unknown as to who, when and where gave rise to this doctrine, but it is certain that those upholding this doctrine were divided into so many circles and bestowed consideration on it in their respective manners.
An act once performed does not go waste and the very same person who performs an act reaps its fruit - from out of this deliberation there came