Source Book in Jaina Philosophy

SR No.: 001263
Original Sutra Author: N/A
Author: Devendramuni
Publisher: Tarak Guru Jain Granthalay
Publication Year: 1983
Total Pages: 590
Language: English
Classification: Book_English & Philosophy
File Size: 10 MB

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A SOURCE-BOOK IN JAINA PHILOSOPHY
If the living beings contained in a drop of water were each to get a body of the size of a grain of sesamum, then they will overflow the jambūdvīpa.1
The living beings contained in a spark (cingārī) were each to get the body of the size of a small egg of louse (likha) then the jambüdvipa will be over-populated.2
The living beings contained in a fraction of air which moves a leaf of a margosa tree were to get the body of a tiny grain of khasakhasa then jāmbūdvīpa will be over-populated.
BODY AND SELF (ŚARIRA AND ATMAN)
The problem of the relation of the body and soul has been an important problem in philosophy. Three theories explaining the relation between the two have been presented :
1. Materialistic view which may be described as “Epiphenomenalism' used in describing the relation between body and mind.
2. Parallelism, and 3. Interactionalism.
Epiphenomenalism tried to dispense with mind and soul as an independent reality and make them a by-product of the metabolic changes in the body. Consciousness (Cetanā) is the product of the metabolic changes in the brain cells. As the function of intestines is is digestion, the function of the lungs is breathing so is the function of cerebrum is consciousness. It is also considered as function a by. product of the chemical changes in the cerebrum. There is nothing like Atman or the consciousness as a separate reality.
The Atmavādins, i.e., those who advocate the reality of the Ātman as different from the body or the mind refute the arguments of the epiphenomenalists by showing that the use of the term action (kriyā) is ambiguous. It is one thing to say that the action or function of the intestines is to digest food and the lungs to breathe, yet another
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Egammi dagabindummi je jiņa varehim, pannattā. Te jas sarisavamittā jambūdīve na māïnti. Varațțitandulamittā teū, jīvā jinehim paņņattā. Mattha palikkha pamānā; jambūdive na māïnti Je limyapatta pharisā vāu jīva jinehimpannattā. Te jas khasakhasamittā, jambūdīve na māīnti.
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