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CHAPTER II THE CATEGORY OF THE LIVING What is the nature of the soul, which is the first of the objects of right faith ?
औपशमिकक्षायिको भावौ मिश्रश्च जीवस्य
स्वतत्त्वमौदयिकपारिणामिको च Aupasami kakşāyikau bhāvau mišrašca jīvasya
svatattvamaudayi kapāriņāmi kau ca (1) 1. The distinctive characteristics of the soul are the dispositions (thought-activities) arising from subsidence, destruction, destruction-cum-subsidence of karmas, the rise of karmas and the inherent nature or capacity of the soul.
Just as the mud in water settles down when clearing nuts are put into it, so also the karmic matter does not manifest its power in the soul due to causes (i. e. the disposition of the soul). This is called subsidence. Ksaya is complete removal of the mud. For instance, the same clear water is poured into another vessel, and it is completely free from mud. Similarly, the entire removal of karmic matter is destruction. The third state is a mixed state of destruction-cum-subsidence, as in the case of the water, which, owing to the presence of clearing nuts, is clear and muddy in different parts of the vessel. The fruition of karmas in the presence of things and so on is rise. The essential nature of the soul irrespective of karmic matter is the capacity inherent in the soul. That, which has subsidence as its object or cause, is subsidential. Similarly with regard to destructional, destruction-cum-subsidential, rising and inherent. These five dispositions are the distinctive characteristics of the soul.
The subject under consideration is right belief. And among the three kinds of right belief, that of subsidence is attained first by every soul. So it is mentioned first. The opposite of subsidence is destruction. Besides, among the non-liberated souls, the right believers of this type are innumerable times
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