Concept of Matter in Jaina Philosophy

SR No.: 001663
Original Sutra Author: N/A
Author: J C Sikdar
Publisher: P V Research Institute Varanasi
Publication Year: 1987
Total Pages: 412
Language: English
Classification: Book_English, Philosophy, & Physics
File Size: 23 MB

Page 267

232
The Concept of Matter in Jaina Philosophy
and skandha, is also come across in the Buddhist philosophy in different manner. The Buddhist kalāpa or Samghātaparamāņu represents the Jaina paramānu. According to the Buddhists, paramānus exist always in combination, but not in discrete state. Rāśe is called skandha, whatever matters whether past or future or present, internal or external, gross or fine, less or more (minimum or maximum) distant or nearall these taken together are called rūpaskandha.The difference between the Jaina and Buddhist views on these two forms of Matter is this that the Buddhist paramāņu is saīghātaparamānu consisting of seven or eight or nine or ten material particles; it is not the cause-like paramāņu of Jaina Metaphysics. The Saṁghāta-paramānu of the Buddhists actually corresponds to vyavahārika paramāņus of the Jainas. According to the physical sciences also, there are mainly two forms of Matter, viz. atom and molecule, although atom is subject to further division into electron, proton, neutron, etc.
Two classes of Matter from the Point of view of Apprehensibility
In Jaina Philosophy Matter has also been classified into two groups from the point of view of apprehensibility by the senses, its tactile quality and its unitariness (pradeśātmakatā), viz. sūksma and bādara (fine and gross).3 Matters which are 1. Rāśyāyadvāragotrārthāh skandhāyatanadhātavaḥ
Mohendriyarucitraidhāt tisraḥ skandhādideśanāḥ,
Abh. K., 1. Kā 20; see Vibhāsā, 74, p. 383. 2. See Samyuktanikāya, 25. 2;
Yatkiñcid-rūpamatstānāgatapratyutpannam adhyātmikam vā bāhyam vā audārikaṁ vā sūkşmam vā hinam vā pranītam vā dūraṁ vā antikam vā tadekadhyamabhisanksiptyāyamucyate rūpaskandhah,
Vibhanga, p. 1, Vide Abhidharmakośa (Hindi), p. 31. 3. BhS, 8.1.310 ff:
Duvihā poggalā paņņattā, tamjabā-suhumā ceva bāyarā ceva, Sthānāṁga, 82; Suhumā savvalogammi, logadese ya bāyarā, Utta., 36. 12.