What is Jainism

Author(s): Champat Rai Jain
Publisher: Champat Rai Jain

Page 35

SACRED PHILOSOPHY
matter, for if that were so, every soul would become a God the moment it breathed its last, which would be absurd. Material impurities adhere to the ego in the form of two subtle invisible bodies, known as the kirmina (the body of karmas) and the taijasa sariras (the body of electric or magnetic matter); and in consequence of the forces of magnetism and chemical affinity which are set in motion by and through them it is attracted and drawn into a new womb immediately on its being released from its gross physical body in consequence of death. As for the circumstances and conditions of the future life, the rule is that the soul being the maker of its own body and liable to be affected by its surroundings, impressions, tendencies and beliefs, the organizing forces residing in the two inner bodies referred to above are modified at the end of each incarnation, giving rise to differences of bodies and bodily limbs, from life to life. Hence, whether an individual is born in pleasant surroundings or in those that are disagreeable, whether he incarnates among men or brutes, whether he is endowed with strong commonsense or is devoid of it, and other such differences of temperament, surroundings, environments and the like, are all due to the different tendencies evolved out by him in the past. Thus is birth followed by death and death by re-birth till nirvana is attained, when the soul is rid of all kinds and forms of material impurities once for all, and continues to live, for ever, in its own natural purity, as pure Effulgent Spirit, omniscient, immortal and endowed with surpassing happiness !
Such, ladies and gentlemen, is the goal of philosophy in the Jaina Siddhanta--it aspires to raise puny miserable mortals to the status and dignity of Gods!
It only remains for me to say that it has not been possible for me to do aught more than to touch the bare fringe of the subject, though we have devoted so much time to it. But if any one feel interested in the further study of the subject, there are books now available which will be found to be helpful for the purpose. I must not forget to thank you for your attentiveness throughout this long discourse before I resume my seat. Such interest in a subject-matter of this kind is certainly expected to be productive of good results. What I particularly wish you to note to day is that the soul is an immortal