Reals on the Jaina Metaphysics

SR No.: 001619
Original Sutra Author: N/A
Author: Harisatya Bhattacharya
Publisher: Shatnidas Khetsy Charitable Trust Mumbai
Publication Year: 1966
Total Pages: 430
Language: English
Classification: Book_English, Philosophy, Religion, & Epistemology
File Size: 8 MB

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Reals in the faina Metaphysics things without bringing about any order or system in them. It is conceived as a strictly passive substance. It may be one of the conditions of ordered motions; but it is never an active agent and as such, you cannot fix upon Dharma as the sole cause or condition of the order or the system of motions in the universe.
The truth is that neither Dharma nor Adharma nor Ākāśa nor Kāla-none of these passive principles can be said to bring about the order or system in the movements of substances, either jointly or severally, although their existence may be a help to it. Rigorous monism here would probably introduce the principle of one ultimate Reality or substance, to explain the order in the universe and Theism posits God for this purpose. Jaina Philosophy is opposed to extreme monism and to Theism as well. To explain the ordered motions and for the matter of that, order in the universe, we must fall back upon the nature of Jiva and Pudgala, the two principles which move of and by themselves. The principle of Life is essentially the same in all the Jiva's, so that their functionings, activities and movement must be similar and have even a family likeness. If in addition to this, we take into account the fact that these Jiva's, work within the bounds of the same Kāla, Akāśa, Dharma, Adharma and Pudgala, we shall see that an order and system is bound to grow among them. As regards the order in the purely physical sphere, we think that Jainism would have no objection to subscribe to the up-to-date scientific explanation of it. Like the scientists of the modern time, the Jaina's may say that the order in the physical plane is due to the nature of the physical substances, their mass and motion, the law of Gravity, the principles of attraction and repulsion inherent in them. And they may add that the existence of Dharma, Adharma, Ākāśa and Kāla is a great help, nay, a sine-qua-non, to the growth of order in the purely physical sphere. But the Jaina's are opposed to leaving the cosmic order to chance. They point out that there is a soul in every minute part of the world. The existence of souls in the universe helps the growth of order