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ESSENCE OF SOUL
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inanimate elements Quoting from the observations of another critic, Shilangacharya gives to us a second argument on this point 'By the combination of five elements of different qualities consciousness cannot originate because it is evident that all the five senses have the knowledge of their own subjects The subJect known by one sense cannot be known by another sense And with these observations we naturally come to the conclusion there is without doubt a substance called the soul which has the collective experience of the subject which is known by the five different senses
Acharang Sutra, the first of the eleven Jain scriptures, which historically too is the oldest Jain scripture, begins with the following observation about the significance of the soul "So many people do not know where I have come from? Shall I go to the next life or not? Who am I? and where shall I go from here ?21 In the fifth original scripture Bhagvati, the soul has been very clearly explained and it has been said that the "Soul is eternal, death less, imperishable, undecaying, perpetual and permanent "22
On one occasion while answering some questions of his disciple Gautam Muni, Lord Mahavira, describes the soul as non-eternal too. In this context it will be of interest to study the following dialogue between Gautam Muni and Lord Mahavira:
21. Acharang 1-1 22 Bhagwati -Ud
