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 94

Elements of Matter
59,
tary on Kośa (1.11) which runs as follows" : “Vijñaptisamadhisambhūtaṁ kusalākušalarūpamavijñaptiḥ"
The sphuţārthā (commentary) of the Abhidharmakosa makes the point clear by stating that “the Ācārya has defined avijñaptirūpa in brief word to make it easily intelligible to the students". 1 Analysis of Elements of Matter as conceived in the Buddhist Philosophy :
According the Vaibhāșika doctrine, dharmas (elements ) capable to be apprehended by the sense of sight have been defined as Rūpa, just as in the Vaiśesika philosophy only the qualities like blue, yellow, etc. have been called rūpa, but the Vaibhāsika school maintains that only colour has not been called rūpa just like that in its doctrine. Its view is that. colours like blue, yellow, etc., and the shapes like shortness, length, etc., also have been called rūpa.2
In the Vaibesika philosophy colour or dimension is not a substantial entity but inherent in the material substance and attributive in nature, but according to Vaibhāsika school, they have not been admitted as such. Each of them has been accepted as separate entity. In Jaina metaphysics the qualities, such as, colour, etc. are admitted as inherent in the material substance and at the same time they are identical with and different from it.
Blue, red, yellow and white are the four kinds of colour. Cloud (abhra), smoke (dhūnra), dust (rajas), mist or vapour (mihika), shadow (chāyā), heat (ātapa), light (āloka) and darkness (tamaḥ) are the eight kinds of secondary (apradhāna) colour; length, shortness, roundness (or circle), spherical, high, low, even and uneven are the eight kinds of shape. In the Vaibhāșika school these twenty kinds of element as a while are 1. Sisyasukhāvabodhārtham samksepato vākyena tadavijñapti
rūpam darśayatyācāryah-Abh.K., 1.11, Sphuţārthā. 2. That is, paramāņus of the Vaiseșika also have been called
rūpa by the Vaibhāșikas.