Answer

In Jain Dharma, the soul is called Jīva. It exists as an eternal, conscious substance. It was never created and can never be destroyed.

The soul exists because consciousness exists. Wherever there is awareness, knowing, feeling, experience, and life, Jain Dharma understands that there is soul.

Explanation

According to Jain philosophy, reality is made of eternal substances. One of them is Jīva, the living substance.

The soul has these natural qualities:

• Chetanā — consciousness
• Jñāna — knowledge
• Darśana — perception
• Sukha — bliss
• Vīrya — spiritual energy

In worldly life, the soul is covered by karma. Because of karmic bondage, its pure qualities are not fully visible. Just as the sun exists even when covered by clouds, the soul exists even when covered by karma.

Jain Dharma teaches that the body and soul are different:

• The body is material and temporary.
• The soul is conscious and eternal.
• The body changes constantly.
• The soul remains the experiencer of knowledge, pain, pleasure, and spiritual progress.

Spiritual Understanding

The existence of the soul is central to Jain Dharma because liberation is the purification of the soul.

When the soul is attached to anger, pride, deceit, greed, violence, and passions, it attracts karma. When it practices right faith, right knowledge, and right conduct, karmic bondage reduces.

A liberated soul, called Siddha, is free from all karma and remains forever in its pure nature: infinite knowledge, infinite perception, infinite bliss, and infinite energy.

Takeaway

In Jain Dharma, the soul exists as eternal consciousness. It is different from the body, bound by karma in worldly life, and capable of attaining liberation through purity, non-violence, self-discipline, and right understanding.