Religion and Philosophy of the Jainas

Author(s): Virchand R Gandhi
Publisher: Jain International Ahmedabad

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INTRODUCTION considered by the soul to be done to the soul, and therefore what happens to the body will be felt by the soul; but if the soul for a moment thinks that the body is not the self but altogether different and a stranger to the soul, for that reason no feeling of pain will exist. This shows that the self is something higher than the body. Still under ordinary circumstances the soul is influenced by the body and therefore we are to study the laws of the body and soul so as to rise above these little things and proceed on our path to salvation.... The
jence of the material powers on the soul powers depends on the soul's readiness or willingness to submit to these powers. If the soul takes the view that it will not be influenced by anything, it cannot be so influenced.”
Gandhi raises another question : What is its origin ? In answer he says, “If the state of the soul itself is to be taken into consideration, that state has its beginning and its end. The state of the soul as living in the human body had a beginning at birth and will have an end at death, but it is a beginning and end of the state, not of the thing itself. The soul taken as a substance is eternal; taken as a state every state has its beginning and end. So this beginning of a state implies that before this beginning there was another state of the soul. Nothing can exist unless it exists in some state. The state may not be permanent, but the thing must have a state at all times. If, therefore, the present state of the soul had a beginning, it had another state before the beginning of this state, and after the end of this state it will have another state... The acts of the past have determined our present state, and if this is true the acts of the present state must determine the future state.”
This leads him to the treatment of rebirth and transmigration. He mentions so many Westem thinkers and theologians who accepted the doctrine of rebirth or reincarnation. He demonstrates as to how the Bible too assists us in upholding the doctrine. His arguments proving rebirth are illuminating and forceful and cogent.