Jaina World of Non Living

SR No.: 001658
Original Sutra Author: N/A
Author: N L Jain
Publisher: Parshwanath Vidyapith
Publication Year: 2000
Total Pages: 306
Language: English
Classification: Book_English, Philosophy, Tattvartha Sutra, Tattvartha Sutra, & Tattvarth
File Size: 17 MB

Page 59

The Jaina world of Non-living
characteristics from the living one, i.e. non-consciousness etc. It is a positive and counterpart entity to the living one. It means that the medium of motion and rest etc. do not have any characteristics of the living. This indicates that the prefix 'a' (non-) has different meanings with reference to context (see Sanskrta English Dictionary, V.S. Apte, Page 1) 5. The non-living realities here are termed as 'bodies' or 'existent bodies'. The word 'bodies' means extension in term of 'collection of space points' or 'collection of fine constituents'. The term indicates origination and destruction aspects of the reality. The medium of rest, motion and space have space-pointal unit collection while the mattergy has constituental grouping. The space point may be defined as the indivisible and elementary cell of space occupied by an ultimate atom. It is termed as 'Pradesa' in Jaina terminology. 6. Though time is also a non-living entity, but is has not been included in this aphorism. This means the substantive reality of time was a disputed issue even in the days of Umāsvāti (-mi). Moreover, some Svetambara canons call it as a mode of living and non-living entity. Some postulate about practical or metaphorical time rather than real time. However, it is only space pointal in nature and, hence, not accepted as an 'extended body'. 7. Almost all the ancient eastern philosphies agree to the different names and number of categories of reality. The soul (Ātmā, Jiva, living) is accepted by all (except Cārvākas) either in its real form or worldly form. But there is no specific category designated as Ajiva or Non-living in other systems except the Jainas, though this could be inferred from the different types of properties of categories in contrast to the living soul. The Sānkhyan Prakrti or primordial element of Nature may be equated with the non-living reality of the Jainas. The space and mattergy (under different names and varieties) are agreed by the Nyaya-Vaiseșikas. The term 'Pudgala' is specific to the Jainas to which Buddhas give different meaning (i.e. soul in worldly ways, not in reality). However, the medium of rest and motion are specific to Jainas only representing their ingenuity of thoughts on the order of the universe. However, the Greeks (Aristotle and Anaxagoras) had inklings about the medium of motion with not
54