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Pure Soul and its Infinite Treasure * 67
In a transparent and clear mirror, a peacock is reflected as if the peacock has entered the mirror but in fact, there is no peacock in the mirror but it shows the clarity and transparency of mirror. Similarly, the whole of the universe is reflected in the mirror of the soul, which is clear and transparent, but the objects of the universe have not entered into the soul. These objects remain as they are, but the souls clear reflective ability has only transformed them that way. Such timeless ability to reflect external objects is inherent in the soul. This power permeates the substances along with their properties and various modes. It is worth noting that inspite of reflecting infinite objects for infinite times, this power of clarity does not get maligned or distorted or diminished. This power of clarity is not understood when the soul is materially inclined but manifests when a soul gets absorbed in oneself completely. It is automatic and not caused either by the senses or knowledge of external objects. This transparent knowledge of the soul is not supported, distorted or imperfected by any other object. In the above example, the mirror is an inanimate object, it does not have consciousness or knowledge. In this universe, there are other things as well as the self and the pure soul knows all of them. But the self does not exist in other objects and the latter does not exist in the former. However, the pure soul reflects transparently both the self and other objects.
12. Self-Illuminating (Prakashtva) - The soul realises itself directly by its own nature and this realisation is clear, transparent and self-illuminating. The following points need to be noted for better understanding of this property: i) The self-illuminating nature does not depend on
external objects and hence external objects do not lead to understanding/realisation of the soul.
