Soul Science Part 01

Author(s): Parasmal Agrawal
Publisher: Kundakunda Gyanpith

Page 47

Soul Science : Samayasāra by Jain Ācārya Kundakunda
In stanza 5, Ācārya Kundakunda has stated that he would show Ekatva-Vibhakta soul in this treatise. Therefore, we should keep in our mind that he is going to write many stanzas in order to show the Ekatva-Vibhakta soul. We should be patient. One would have a better clarity after understanding the existence of the Ekatva-Vibhakta soul in every being
Question: We don't see any advantage in visualizing the same
pure soul in a saint and a thief. It may hinder our spiritual growth. How can this knowledge be useful?
Answer: (a) Imagine a young boy being coached by his father.
His father is a gold-smith. One day the boy noted that his father sold a beautiful necklace to a customer in exchange for an old fashioned ornament of nearly same weight. In cash, he received only a small sum of money as making charges. His father explains that the old fashioned ornament also has same quantity of gold in it. After hearing this explanation the boy says, “I do not see any advantage in seeing the existence of the equally valuable pure gold in a beautiful necklace and in the ugly-torn-old fashioned ornament. By explaining to me the existence of the same pure gold even in the ugly and old fashioned ornament, you are indirectly suggesting to me that I may choose that old fashioned ornament for my wife to wear. But I am sorry to say that I cannot agree with you as it may hurt my relations with my wife."
If you were his mentor, how would you respond? You may say to such a young boy that he should understand the facts related with the gold to be a successful gold-smith. But in making the decisions related to his wife, he should consider her choice. Just to fulfill her choice, he should not block the facts associated with gold. He can fulfill the choice of his wife without distorting the truth. In the same way, an understanding of the existence of the same pure soul in a saint and a thief does not prevent a judge from punishing any person as per laws of the land.