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96 /JAIN STUDIES AND SCIENCE
ATMA-TATVA (THE CONCEPT OF SOUL)
All Indian philosophies have one common concept - the belief in existence of pristine soul. They have cited several direct and indirect proofs to establish this. Though it is said to be beyond sensory perception, its discussions are so deep and wide ranging that the concept of soul has taken a form of a doctrine. So is true for Jain philosophy, which starts with the existence of a bonded soul and ends up with its emancipation. Thus the concept of existence of soul is central to the Jain thoughts. 'I am and I am separate from the body' - is the axiom acknowledged by the Jains. This concept has, in turn, given rise to three interdependent doctrines of Karmavad, Lokvad and Kriyavad.
After the years of indulgence with the Jain and other Indian philosophies, Mahapragya states, “Do not doubt the existence of soul, as it is amorphous and is beyond the perception of even the most refined human sensory organ." In this context, Mahapragya has quoted the observations of Sir Oliver Laws, who was the member of the Council for Investigation of Soul and Supernatural, “It is not prudent to be over dependent on the physics and entirely ignore the metaphysics. Soul and conscience are not the qualities of a body rather they have their own manifestations. Even when entrapped or housed in a body, soul remains an independent entity. It survives even when the body perishes. It has therefore become imperative to find the rules governing the co-existence of a perennial soul and a transitory body.”
Science has been able to establish direct cause and effect relationship involving various micro particles like electrons and various other invisible rays like gamma etc. Scientists are now looking for an evidence for the existence of soul by getting it photographed. But, Mahapragya cautions them in advance regarding the futility of this exercise because soul is so pure and subtle that it is formless and is not material. Soul is not pudgalic. However, he encourages the efforts of the scientists to obtain any direct or indirect confirmation of Karmic body which too is very subtle (like quadons) but is material in nature and remains associated with the soul. Soul – An Eternal Enigma
A question is being perpetually asked by the rationalists and others, “That even if the presence of soul is accepted, how and when a formless soul moulded in a defined boundaries of a body?” As far as the first part of this question is concerned, as to how soul takes the shape of body, Mahapragya states that there exists an affinity between the quadons of Karma body and the soul. In
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