Samayasara OR Nature of Self

SR No.: 011119
Original Sutra Author: N/A
Author: A Chakravarti
Publisher: Bharatiya Gyanpith
Publication Year: 1950
Total Pages: 406
Language: English
Classification: Book_English
File Size: 38 MB

Page 195

32
SAMAYSARA
intimately related to the soul as its own body or indirectly related to the soul as one's own wealth and property In any case, identifying one's Self with these material objects is but a mark of the lack of knowledge as to the real nature of things But if you say that the soul and the physical objects are not so very different in nature as to exclude all possible relations between the two, then you have to remember that your view would be in conflict with the Divine Word of the Sarvajña, or the Omniscient According to the pravachana, the soul is fundamentally different in nature from Pudgala (matter) Its nature is characterised by perfect knowledge and perfect perception, whereas matter is non-living, achetana, a characteristic which is contradictory to that of the soul With such an incompatability of nature, how can they be reasonably identified with each other? If your predication, “This is mine” is maintainable, it must be only on this condition, which is impossible, viz , that the soul can be transmuted into matter and matter into the soul It is clear that the author addresses a deluded person, (bahır-ātman) who is incapable of discriminating between soul and matter, and points out to him the fundamental differences between the two It is the clear perception of this difference, viveka jñana that forms the foundation of Right Faith
Next the author states the possible defects which may be pointed out against the view that the Self and the body are absolutely distinct from each other
जदि जीवो ण सरीर तित्थयरायरियसथुदी चेव ।
सव्वावि हवदि मिच्छा तेण दु आदा हवदि देहो ॥२६॥ Jadi jivo na sariram titthayarāyeriya-santhudu cheva Savvā vi havadı michchā tena du ādā havadı deho - (26)
यदि जीवो न शरीर तीर्थकराचार्यसस्तुतिश्चैव ।।
सर्वापि भवति मिथ्या तेन तु आत्मा भवति देह ॥२६॥ 26 If the soul is not the body then the hymns praising (the bodily excellence, răpastava, of) the Tirthankara or the Achārya will all be false Therefore the soul must indeed be the body
COMMENTARY The Titthankara as distinguished from Siddha has a body