Jainism and World Problems

Author(s): Champat Rai Jain
Publisher: ZZZ Unknown

Page 93

THE FIVE LADDHIS
85
is not the whole of this immaterial being, and does not reveal its whole nature ; we should have to recognize that the constancy of the effects in consciousness produced by the cerebral processes, and their relative independence of the state or content of consciousness at the inoment of the incidence of the cerebral influences, are evidences that the immaterial being is more than consciousness and is the enduring possessor of capacities of reacting upon cerebral influences in a
umber of different ways of which some only are realized at any moment. The psychic being is, then, more than the stream of consciousness; and the sensory changes of consciousness produced by cerebral changes are only a partial expression of its enduring nature. And, when the effects of two or more sense-stimuli appear in consciousness combined to a common resultant, this is because the separate cerebral processes act upon this one being and stimulate it to react according to the laws of its own nature with the production of changes in the stream of consciousness. This psychic being, whose nature is thus partially expressed by the production of the unitary sensory content of consciousness in response to the manifold cerebral influences, is that medium of composition of effects, that ground of the unity of concious. ness and of psychical individuality, which the intellect demands and which cannot be found in the substance of the brain."
These reasonings are certainly good. Mr. McDougall's book, “ Body and Mind," affords very interesting reading. It is sure to appeal to all lovers of the Spiritual Science, especially to Jainas. Mr. McDougall has clearly demonstrated the existence of the soul, though his obstructive karmas
brilliance,' haste and readiness to formulate an opinion-lay hold on him as soon as he has accomplished this task. He makes no further enquiry to ascertain the attributes of the soul substance; he knows nothing about the remaining aspects of the soul-nature, yet does not hesitate to affirm the