42 Mr. H. T. Colebrooke on the Philosophy of the Hindus. 



Soul on the contrary is devoid of qualities ; it is discriminative ; it is no 

 object of enjoyment ; it is several or peculiar ; it is sensitive, aware of pain 

 and pleasure ; unprolific, for nothing is generated by it. 



In these respects it differs from all the other principles : on certain points 

 it conforms with the undiscrete principle, and differs from the discrete : in 

 one regard it agrees with these and disagrees with the other : for it is not 

 single, but on the contrary multitudinous; and it is causeless, eternal, per- 

 vading, immutable, unsupported, unmerging or unimplying, unconjunct 

 (consisting of no parts), self governed. 



The attributes of the perceptible, discrete principles and of the undiscrete, 

 indefinite one, are considered to be proved* by the influence of the three 

 qualities in one instance, and their absence in the converse ; and by con- 

 formity of cause and effect : an argument much and frequently relied upon. 

 It concerns the material, not the efficient, cause. 



From the contrast between soul and the other principles, it follows, as the 

 Cdricd] affirms, that "soul is witness, bystander, spectator, solitary and 

 passive. Therefore, by reason of union with it, insensible body seems sen- 

 sible : and, though the quahties be active, the stranger (soul) appears as the 

 agent." 



" Though inanimate, nature performs the office of preparing the soul for 

 its deliverance, in like manner as it is a function of milk, an unintelligent 

 substance, to nourish the calf." J; 



Nature is likened to a female dancer, exhibiting herself to soul, as to an 

 audience, and is reproached with shamelessness for repeatedly exposing her- 

 self to the rude gaze of the spectator. " She desists, however, when she 

 has sufficiently shown herself. She does so, because she has been seen ; he 

 desists, because he has seen her. There is no further use for tlie world : 

 yet the connexion of soul and nature still subsists." ^ 



By attainment of spiritual knowledge, through the study of principles, 

 the conclusive, incontrovertible, single truth is learned, so the Cdricd 

 declares || that " neither I am, nor is aught mine, nor I exist." 



" All, which passes in consciousness, in intellect, is reflected by the soul, 

 as an image which sullies not the crystal, but appertains not to it. Possessed 

 of this self-knowledge, soul contemplates at case nature thereby debarred 



• Car. 14. "t- Cdr. 19, 20. J Cdr. 75. § Car. 59, 61, 66. 



II Cdr.6i. 



