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JAINA GAZETTE.
(Aug. & Sept.
I am related to the rest of the universe, the Commander-inChief is related to the rest of the army, the fire is related to the rest of the railway engine, the spring is related to the other parts of the clock, and so on. If we say the Commander-inChief is related to the ariny we are, of course, understood ; and for ordinary talk such expressions are sufficiently precise. But it is well to remember, or see, that such expressions are not really exactly precise ; saying that the Cominander is related to the army is like saying that the Commander is related to the Commander and his subordinates; and to say that the Commander is related to the Commander is not to say what we are thinking or believe to be the case. So to be precise we must say he is related TO THE REST OF THE ARMY. That is what I meant. I think it is clear and true, I am related to the rest of what is ; to the rest of the universe,-not to the universe. The handle is related to the rest of the tea-pot-not to the tea-pot. This point is certainly true, and applying it to the particular case of the universe, I must speak of my relation to the rest, or other parts, of the universe, to be precise ; for to speak of me AND the universe, the Commander AND the army, the handle and the tea-pot is not expressing correctly what is in the mind,
But perhaps this is not important; it is only important if it helps to prove that individuals in relation do not constitute a Universal Self. Also I must mention that this particular point I have just tried to show, is only what I see ; it is not part of Jainism as far as I know ; I refer now to the whole and part relation. Jainism does teach, if I understand correctly, that each individual is a soul, a unit, and the mass of souls is not A SOUL, or UNIVERSAL SELF; the Jain systein gives omniscienos to each ; it regards each individual as a true spiritual whole. And I much prefer to feel that I am a whole, and not merely a part of a thing. I am part of the Universe, yes, but the Universe is not a whole in the sense that I am ; and “I” means soul, not body and soul.
Regarding your protest "setting up a whole in opposition to its parts” it seems to me that this is just the result of Shree Sudharmaswami Gyanbhandar-Umara, Surat
www.umaragyanbhandar.com
