Philosophy of Soul and Matter

Author(s): Chitrabhanu, Clare Rosenfield
Publisher: Jain Meditation International Center

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If we see only one polarity, our vision tends to become myopic. Those who see nothing beyond atom strive only for material achievement and end up where they began-in the process of construction and destruction of molecules. Seeing man as a machine, they risk their own annihilation. At the same time, those who neglect the study of atom for an exclusive interest in atma risk becoming engulfed by poverty, indifferent towards progress, and callous towards suffering living beings.
To live we need both, food for the body and nourishment for the soul. We need balance. We need to sit at the center of ourselves and observe both atma and atom. Watching ourselves with the eye of wisdom, we will see that we are neither biased nor pious, but open and moving-towards the enlargement of heart and the enlightenment of
consciousness.
How can we experience that balance: By shedding the spiritual light of atma on atom. By becoming aware through meditation of both the center and the circumference. By differentiating between sentient and insentient. Balanced, our movement will be characterized by purposeful direction (pragati) and not by a vicious circle (gati). In this way, our sentient
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