34.2 Impermanence

 34.2 Impermanence 

Question:

Is there a soul? Is it permanent? 

Answer:

Death is like sleep, and birth is the awakening from sleep.                (Couplet - 339) 

The fledgling flies away, abandoning the nest; such is the

soul's relationship with the body.                                                            (Couplet - 338) 

Is there no permanent place for the soul which leaves the body at the time

of death like the fledgling that flees its nest when it is ready to fly? (Couplet - 340) 

உறங்கு வதுபோலும் சாக்காடு உறங்கி

விழிப்பது போலும் பிறப்பு.                                     (குறள் – 339) 

குடம்பை தனித்து ஒழியப் புள்பறந் தற்றே

உடம்பொடு உயிரிடை நட்பு.                                   (குறள் -338) 

புக்கில் அமைந்தின்று கொல்லோ உடம்பினுள்

துச்சில் இருந்த உயிர்க்கு.                                     (குறள் – 340)

 

Explanation:

Major religions like Hinduism, Jainism, Judaism, Islam, and Christianity have the concept of a soul that is permanent and distinct from the body. Even ancient Greek philosophers like Plato believed in the existence of a permanent soul that temporarily resides in a human body when the body is alive. Despite the widespread belief that there is a soul and that it is permanent, there is no scientific evidence to support the existence of a soul. So, the fact that the soul exists and is permanent is a belief rather than a fact. 

Valluvar also subscribes to the idea that every human being has a soul, and it departs from the body when the body dies. According to Valluvar, the body and the soul relationship is like sleep and awakening. He also says that the soul departs from the body like the fledgling, abandoning the nest and flying away. He wonders whether there is a permanent abode for the soul which temporarily resides in the body like a tenant.