________________
PREFACE : LXXIII
work the author has deliberated on the subject of firm and unwavering belief. “A firm belief in the existence of the soul is essential”, he says and goes on to refute the arguments of the non-spiritualists such as the Buddhists.' Discussing the Buddhist philosophies of momentariness (Ksanikavāda) and that of embodied knowledge (Alaya-vijnānavāda), the author says that their beliefs are not tenable as they mean that the actor and the enjoyer of the fruits of action are not the same, and that is not logical and cannot be true. The author has very logically proved that for every living body there has to be different soul, which is specific to that body, which has to be of the same dimensions as the body that it occupies. This was about the first element (tattva) called Jīva. Besides this, the existence of the non-living substances (the second element called Ajīva) such as ether (Dharmāstikāya or the medium of motion), non-ether (Adharmastikaya or medium of rest), space (Ākāśa), time (Kala), and tangible matter (Pudgala) has been irrefutably proved. In the verses that follow, the existence of remaining seven elements: merit (Punya or auspicious karma that results in plaeasurable retribution), demerit (Pāpa or inauspicious karma that results in painful retribution), karmic influx (Āsrava), karmic stoppage
Ibid, 78. Ibid, 79–81. Ibid, 82–83. Ibid, 84–85.
