Book Title: Religion and Philosophy of the Jainas
Author(s): Virchand R Gandhi
Publisher: Jain International Ahmedabad

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Page 68
________________ 35 CULTURAL ENVIRONMENT cleaned when the body is well cleaned, that Self will also be blind if the body is blind, lame if the body is lame, crippled if the body is crippled, and perish in fact as soon as the body perishes; therefore I see no good in this doctrine. Taking fuel in his hand he went again as a pupil to Prajāpati. Prajāpati said to him, “Well, Indra, you went away with Virocana, quite satisfied in your heart, what has brought you back ?” Indra said, “Sir, as this Self is well adomed when the body is well adored, well dressed when the body is well dressed etc., that Self will also be blind when the body is blind. Therefore I see no good in this doctrine.” “So it is indeed”, Prajāpati said, "but I shall explain the true Self further to you. Live with me another thirty two years." He lived with him another thirty two years and then Prajāpati said, “He who moves about happy in dreams, he is the Self, this is the immortal, the fearless, this is Brahman.” Then Indra went away satisfied in his heart. But before he had retumed to the gods, he saw this difficulty : Although it is true that that Self is not blind even if the body is blind, nor lame if the body is lame, though it is true that that Self is not rendered faulty by the faults of the body, nor struck when the body is struck, nor lamed if the body is lamed, yet it is as if they struck him the Self in dreams, as if they chased him. He becomes even conscious, as it were, of pain and sheds tears in dreams. Therefore I see no good in this. Taking fuel in his hands he went again as a pupil to Prajāpati. Prajapati said, “Well, Indra, you went away satisfied in your heart, what has brought you back ?” Indra told him his difficulty. Then Prajāpati said, "So it is indeed, Indra. But I shall explain the true Self further to you. Live with me another thirty two years." He lived with him another thirty two years. Then Prajāpati said, “When a man being asleep, reposing and at perfect rest, sees no dreams, that is the Self, this is the immortal, the fearless, this is Brahman.” Indra went away quite pleased; but before he had returned to the pods he thought, "Truly, in this dreamless repose he does not his Self that he is I, nor does he know anything that exists. h; is gone to utter annihilation. So I see no good in this." Jain Education International For Private & Personal Use Only www.jainelibrary.org

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