Traverses on Less Trodden Path of Indian Philosophy and Religion

Author(s): Yajneshwar S Shastri
Publisher: L D Indology Ahmedabad

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Traverses on less trodden path...
are separate. Pure soul cannot be identified with the gross body.14 This vyavahara is concerned with the problems of empirical life only. It tells us about the bound soul with all its characteristics. From the empirical point of view the soul is the agent of action and it undergoes such experience as those of pain and pleasure. Transcendental point of view is related with supreme self which transcends the empirical conditions. It is a state in which an intelligent person distinguishes self from not self and sees self as pure entity, free from all types of conditions. Perceiving the Atman as not bound, not touched, not other than itself, steady, without any difference and not combined is the pure transcendental point of view. 15 The practical standpoint does not reveal the pure self; it is transcendental view point, which reveals the truth. 16 The so-called characteristics of soul, such as colour, taste, smell etc., and spiritual development are predicated of the soul from the purely on empirical view point but absolute point of view, none of these can be predicated of the soul, because it is above these predicates. 17 From the empirical standpoint the self is regarded as an agent and enjoyer, but from the absolute point of view the self is neither an agent nor an enjoyer. 18 From the vyavahära point of view, the self appears to be bound. 19 Again from the absolute standpoint, individual self is identical with ultimate reality or Supreme Soul. Karmic adjuncts cover the selfshining Atman. When all the Karmic materials are destroyed through Right faith, Right conduct and Right knowledge, the self shines in its pristine purity and glory. In the supreme self, there is no colour, no smell. no taste, no touch, no visible from, no body. neither desire, nor aversion, no Karmic matter, no ego consciousness. There is neither activity nor bondage.20 Paramartha (transcendental-state) is the state of complete freedom from attachment, aversion and all types of Karmic materials. It is the state of knowledge consciousness (Jñana cetana). In this state the soul remains absorbed in its pure intrinsic, blissful conscious state. Right belief, Right conduct, Right knowledge are said to
14 Vyavaharanayo bbasate jivodehaśca bhavati khalu ekaḥ Na tu niscayasya jivodehaśca kadāpyekarthaḥ S. S. 27.
15 Yaḥ Pasyati ātmanam, abaddhaspṛṣṭam, ananyakam niyatam. Aviseṣamasamyuktam tam Suddhanayam Vijanihi-S-S. 14.
16 Vya vaharo abhūtartho bhütärtho desitastu suddhanayaḥ. S. S. 11.
17 Vyavahäreṇatvete jivasya bhavanti varṇādyaḥ. Gunasthänäntä bhāvā natu kecin. niscayanayasya-S, S. 56 and 60..
18 Vyavaharasya tvātmā pudgalakarma karoti anekavidham. Taccaiva.punarvedayate pudgalakarmaneka vidham.-S. S. 84.
19 Jive Karma baddham, spritm ceti vyavaharanayena bhaṇitam. Suddhanayasya tu jive abaddhaspṛstim bhavati karma-S. S. 141.
20 S. S. 50-54.