Seen through Pravachanasara’s lens, the soul resembles an ever-shining lamp whose clear light gets hidden beneath layers of karmic dust. By nature, it’s formless, indivisible, eternal and endowed with pure consciousness. Unaffected by birth or death, its essence isn’t woven from matter; rather, it stands apart as the knower, the very source of awareness.

Kundakunda paints four intrinsic qualities of the soul:

1. Infinite Knowledge (ananta jñāna): Just as the internet caches boundless data, the soul inherently holds limitless insight—though karmic veils scramble its bandwidth.
2. Infinite Perception (ananta darśana): Every moment of experience flows through its unfettered lens, but sticky karmic residues blur the view.
3. Infinite Bliss (ananta sukha): Deep within lies an ocean of joy, comparable to sunlight’s warmth—only obscured when clouds of passion and ignorance roll in.
4. Infinite Energy (ananta vīrya): A powerhouse of vitality, waiting to surge free once karmic chains dissolve.

These “guaranteed features” remain untouched by external influences, even if unseen. Obliterating the karma that clings to this pristine core is like cleaning a smudged window: the window itself isn’t tarnished—it’s simply covered.

In today’s world, mindfulness apps spark a similar quest for clarity, yet Kundakunda points out that polishing the soul isn’t about adding new tools—it’s about removing old dirt. By right belief (samyaktva), right knowledge (samyag jñāna) and right conduct (samyak cāritra), those karmic layers loosen.

Ultimately, the soul stands as its own reality—silent, subtle, yet vibrant. A restless mind may chase external fixes, but Pravachanasara insists the treasure trove of awareness already glimmers within, waiting for the layers to fall away so its true shine can be seen once and for all.