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 95

60
The Conception of Matter in Jaina Philosophy
defined as rūpa.1
There are stated to be three divisions among these twenty kinds of rūpa under the category of varņa (colour) and saṁ 3thāna (shape). The first division, i. e. colours, such as, blue, etc., is only varnātmaka (associated with colour); the third division, i, e, shapes like lengih, etc., is only samsthānātmaka (associated with shape) and the second division is constituted of colour and shape together (varna and samsthāna). Here the question arises what is the necessity of mentioning the second division, as its place has been covered by the first and third divisions. In the cloud, etc. there is the assemblage of blue colour and the shapes like long, etc., so they will be included in the blue colour and shapes like long, etc. In reply to this question the Vaibhāşikas explain that the shapes like long, etc., belonging to the third division are kāyavijnapti dharma (bodily expression or physical intimation), i. e. they are a kind of activity (kriyā) of Kāyika saṁsthānavišesātmaka (particular physical shape). 2 They are formed in the shape of length, etc If a person goes on foot to some distance, the physical activity is considered as long; thus if he moves in circle, his activity (kriyā) is understood as round. So the physical action also, in fact, becomes of particular shapes like long, etc.
In the Vaibhāsika school the actions like going, etc. have been called 'Kāyavijñapti' (physical intimation).3 The Vaibhāsika view of action must completely be distinct from the Vaišeșika concept of action, for it has admitted the substance -substratum of action, as separate and permanent. So it has been possible to accept a separate entity called action (karma) in this system of thought by recognizing a separate substratum 1. Rūpam dvidhā vimšatidhā---Abh. K., 1. 10. 2. Kāyavijñaptisvabhāva iti. Kāyavijñaptirhi kadācit dirghā
kadācid-hrasvā kadācid-yāvadiśāteti. kiděsi punaḥ sā avagantavyā; tadalambanacittasamutthāpitam yat kāya
karma--Abh. K., 1. 10 Sphuţārthā. 3. Ibid.