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Jain Theism
The doer of the Kriya or Karman is the soul, The body, mind or sense, are the tools through which the soul does the deeds. Senses or body can't do anything when soul is not there. eg. A dead body is inactive and unaffected. Thus we can infer the soul, as the doer of actions exists.
The existence of soul can also be proved through testimony. Testimony or Śabda Pramāņa is also a valid source of knowledge. In Jainism testimony is the Āgama Pramāņa. Agama or the unimpeachable authoritative texts also establishes the real existence of soul. Agama is the knowledge from Apta Purusas and 'Apta' is one who gives the meaningful (Yathartha) real truths. Thus Agama in Jainism is the knowledge of the truth given by an omniscient. There are two types of authorities the worldly and the other worldly. According to Jainism the parents and teachers are the worldly athorities. while the omniscients, the Tirthankaras are the other worldly. Let us see what Jain scriptures say about the existence of soul. Lord Mahāvira in Ācārangsūtra says, "One who knows one knows all."Is If we know the soul we know everything. In Uttarādhyanasūtra, in his last teachings Lord Mahāvira says, “Soul is the doer and destroyer of deeds. Soul is the friend and soul is the enemy”16 It is said in the Sarvadarśana Samgraha that "Jiva alone is conscious and the Ajiva has no consciousness."!? Vädi Devasūri in Pramāņa-naya-tattvā-lokālankāra says, “The subject of all forms of valid cognition is the self as known by direct perception etc."'18 Ācārya Haribhadrasuri in Sāstravártásamuccaya says, “The doer of the deeds and fruits enjoyer as well as the traverser from heaven to hell and the destroyer of the deeds with help of faith, knowledge and conduct is the
soul."19
Thus we find that the Jain system recognizes the existence of Jiva or soul like the other schools of Indian thought. We know, Cārvāka and Buddhism do not accept the existence of soul. The rest accept as Jainism accepts. The acceptance of the existence of soul is the very 15. Tri mug #Hadi Gus II - Acaranga Sutra 16. अप्या कत्ता चित्का य, दुक्खाण य सुहाण य ॥ अप्या मित्तमंमित्त य, दुप्पट्टिय सुपट्टिओ ॥
- Uttaradhyayan Sutra 17. a ateratant wita: 1 grateten attravita: 11 Sarvadarsana Samgraha, p. 67 18. Wat Tranfaufweisen TT 11 -Pramana-Naya-Tattvalokalankara VII - 55 19. u: cal anar a ateri
af uffrafan AT 7A TUT: 11- Haribhadrasari- Śástravārtāsamuccāya 10
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