Jaina Philosophy

SR No.: 001180
Original Sutra Author: N/A
Author: Mohanlal Mehta
Publisher: Bharatiya Vidya Bhavan
Publication Year: 1998
Total Pages: 328
Language: English
Classification: Book_English & Philosophy
File Size: 15 MB

Page 85

JAINA PHILOSOPHY : AN INTRODUCTION
Dharmāstikāya :
This substance as the medium of motion is defined by Umāsvāti as permanent, fixed and without form. Dharmastikāya is only one. It is not capable of moving from one place to another. The whole universe (loka) is the place of dharmāstikāva.!
Now, what is the nature of this substance ? It is helpful in supporting the motion of souls and matter. What does it mean? It means that although the souls and matter have the capacity of moving, yet, they cannot move unless the medium of motion is present in the universe. The medium of motion does not create motion but only helps those who have already got the capacity of moving. It is the medium through which motion takes place. As for instance, a fish swims in water. Here, water does not create swimming but it only helps the fish that has the tendency of swimming. As water helps fish in swimming, the jivāstikāya, and pudgalāstikaya are helped by dharmastikāya when the former tend to move. The medium of motion (dharmāstikāya) is non-material substance possessing no consciousness. It is permanent as well as fixed and one. Everything can penetrate it without any obstruction. It consists of innumerable pradeśas', because the universe-space possesses countless spatial units. Adharmāstikāya :
The auxiliary cause of rest to the soul and matter is called medium of rest (adharmāstikāya). It is a single non-material substance pervading through the whole of the universe. There are countless points of adharmāstikāyu as those of dharmāstikāva. Adharmāstikāva is as helpful with respect to rest as dharmāstikāya is regarding motion. As a tree is helpful to a
1. Ibid., V.3, 5, 6, 7, 13. 2. Niyama-sára, .30.