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Pure Soul and its Infinite Treasure * 29
The greatest principle underlying all the principles is the ability to distinguish between soul and non-soul. This is known as the science of differentiation of soul and non-soul substances, i.e.self and non-self substances (Bheda-vijnana). Continuous practice and keen observations help to develop one's ability to differentiate between soul and non-soul substances based on their characteristics. “Me” and “Others” imply “self” and “non-self” once a person knows “me” or “self”, rest of the process of differentiation follows. But we have misunderstood and have identified “self” and “nonself” as one and the same. This lack of differentiation has lead to ignorance, foolishness and continuous cycle of births and deaths. In fact, one can divide the whole universe into two, viz. ‘one's own self' and the rest. Pure Soul, Auspicious and Inauspicious Deeds
While auspicious and inauspicious deeds can be distinguished in terms of its basis, nature, objectives and results and such distinction is tenable, but when one looks at these from the view-point of pure soul, these represent all non-soul substances and are alike, without any meaningful distinction as far as the path of Moksha is concerned.
A mirror reflects whatever it encounters whether it is a bread or a gun, it does not refuse to reflect even if it is bad/sinful. One nourishes life, the other takes away life. Both the objects are external to the mirror and do not affect the mirror. The mirror does not last long as it shows/reflects bread or by itself does not get destroyed because it reflected a gun. It is neutral to both as far as the nature of mirror is concerned. Similarly, the pure soul being identical to knowledge is compared here with a mirror. The function of knowledge is to know and this knowing ability does not get impaired at all. A camera may take pictures of good deeds
