Answer

In Jain Dharma, the soul is called Jīva. It is a living, conscious substance. Every living being has a soul — from humans, animals, birds, insects, plants, and even very tiny life forms.

The soul is eternal. It is not created and it is not destroyed.

Explanation

According to Jain philosophy, the soul has natural qualities such as:

• Consciousness — the ability to know and perceive
• Knowledge — true knowing is the nature of the soul
• Perception — awareness
• Bliss — pure happiness in its liberated state
• Energy — spiritual power

However, in worldly existence, the soul is covered by karma. Because of karmic bondage, the soul experiences birth, death, pleasure, pain, attachment, anger, pride, deceit, greed, and ignorance.

Jain Dharma teaches that the soul is different from the body. The body changes and dies, but the soul continues its journey according to its karma.

Spiritual Understanding

The pure nature of the soul is infinite knowledge, infinite perception, infinite bliss, and infinite energy. When all karmas are completely removed, the soul becomes liberated. This state is called Moksha or Siddhahood.

A liberated soul is free from birth and death forever.

Takeaway

In Jain Dharma, the soul is your true self. The purpose of spiritual life is to realize the purity of the soul and free it from karma through right faith, right knowledge, and right conduct.