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100 :: Structure and Functions of Soul in Jainism
Devanandin says; "upayoga means a soul's conscious manifestation in the presence of external and internal causes."! The two fold definition of the soul emphasizes the same entity but in its different aspects. Upayoga and consciousness are the two sides of the same entity. Upayaga stands for consciousness as a function, while consciousness may be taken to be an element in the structure of the soul. Consciousness may be interpreted both as a structure and a function but upayoga refers to the functional side only. Upayoga gives us almost the same meaning as we get by being mentally active. Just as a mental activity is a fact of mental functioning and a mental capacity, a fact of mental structure; in the same way consciousness or cetanā may be taken as a fact of the soul's structure and upayoga, as a fact of the soul's function or vrtti.
Identity of Consciousness
So far as upayoga and consciousness are held to be related with the soul as facts of its function and structure, the Jaina thinkers seem to be agreed; but as regards the identity of consciousness their opinions differ. Devanandin and Akalanka think that the meaning of the term jīvatva is consciousness.? Jīvatva refers to the totality of the jiva's attributes. Hence their views imply that consciousness cannot be identified with one or the other attribute of the jīva; nor can it constitute an attribute in itself. Commenting upon the meaning of consciousness Amrtacandra Sūri says: “Consciousness means the general characteristic of the qualities of the soul. Consciousness is the identity of the soul, and the soul undergoes manifestations in its terms. It means that whatever is the soul's manifestation it must not go beyond consciousness." In the 'Bhagavatī-sūtra'jīvätman or the generality of the soul's attributes is taken to be
1. Devanandin: Sarvärthasiddhi, p. 89 2. Devanandin: Sarvārthasiddhi, p. 88 3. Akalanka: Rajavartika, 2.8.1
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| SR No. | 001617 |
| Book Title | Structure and Functions of Soul in Jainism |
| Original Sutra Author | N/A |
| Author | S C Jain |
| Publisher | Bharatiya Gyanpith |
| Publication Year | 1978 |
| Total Pages | 272 |
| Language | English |
| Classification | Book_English, Epistemology, Nyay, & Spiritual |
| File Size | 16 MB |