Soul Science Part 01

Author(s): Parasmal Agrawal
Publisher: Kundakunda Gyanpith

Page 59

Soul Science : Samayasāra by Jain Acārya Kundakunda
23
Annotation
In this stanza Ācārya Kundakunda states that the pure (real) point of view perceives the following regarding the soul: (a) Unbonded and untouched (Abaddhasprşta): The real point
of view perceives that a soul is neither bonded nor touched by Kārmika and physical body. Such a knowing is very different from the understanding provided by the relative point of view. The relative point of view perceives that soul
of a worldly being is bonded by the Karma.. . Question: Can the soul of a worldly being having a physical
body be considered as unbonded or untouched with Kārmika dust or physical matter? Is it correct to have such
understanding? Answer: It is easy to understand that Kārmika particles and the
physical body associated with the soul of a worldly being occupy the same space as occupied by the soul. If we focus on this aspect then we would say that the soul is bonded and is not untouched. A point of view with such a focus is called the relative point of view. In Gāthā 4, Ācārya Kundakunda has stated that it is easy to have such a point of view where we perceive ourselves as bonded. Ācārya Kundakunda wants to show us from an angle where we can perceive the eternal aspect of the soul. He is pointing out the possibility of perceiving such aspects which do not depend on time. He wants us to see the Trikāli Dhruva (invariant with respect to time; i.e., same in present, pasi and future) soul. He is guiding us to comprehend the eternal and changeless dimension of our soul. When X-ray photograph is taken then the skin and flesh do not appear in the photograph. Such an X-ray photograph serves some purpose. Similarly, in this stanza we are getting a view of ours where we see only our soul, where we see only that which does not change with time. For understanding this point of view, we need to transcend time (just as a X-ray photograph transcends skin and flesh). While explaining this stanza Ācārya Amrtacandra in Kalasa 12 writes that with sincere efforts one should try to have such a clear vision where one