Jain Theism

SR No.: 006509
Original Sutra Author: N/A
Author: Hemant Shah
Publisher: Hemant Shah
Publication Year: 1997
Total Pages: 218
Language: English
Classification: Book_English, Philosophy, & Religion
File Size: 10 MB

Page 126

Jain Philosophy of Soul
107 (3) The superiority over joy and grief (Avyābādha) (4) The possession of complete religious truth (Sanyaktva) and
irreproachable moral conduct (Cāritra) (5) The possession of eternal life (Aksayasthiti) (6) Complete formlessness (Amurtatva) (7) Complete equality in rank with other Jivas (Agurulaghutva) (8) Unrestricted energy (Virya)."31
The above mentioned characteristic of the soul in its pure form is described differently by saying that the pure soul possesses four infinites as : infinite faith, infinite knowledge, infinite power and infinite bliss (Ananta Daraśana, Ananta Jñāna, Ananta Virya and Ananta Sukhas : Ananta Catustaya). However, the soul in its impure stage, as enumerated by J.L.Jaini, possesses the following nine properties :
(1) The soul lived in the past, is living now, and shall live for ever. (2) It has perception and knowledge. (3) It is immaterial, i.e. it has no touch, taste, smell or colour. (4) It is the only responsible agent of all its actions. (5) It completely fills the body which it occupies. (6) It enjoys the fruits of all its Karmas. (7) It wanders in Samsāra (8) It can become in its perfect condition Siddha (9) It goes upward."}?
The soul, according to Jainism, as we have seen completely fills the body. This means the size of the soul changes according to the size of the body which it occupies. In Jainism the soul substance is regarded as so much subtle that it is infinitely compressible and infinitely expansible. This has become a very important and a noteworthy feature of the Jain doctrine of soul."33
With reference to number, as we have seen, Jainism believes in pluralism of souls. According to Jainism there are infinite Jivas or souls. Not only human beings, but each animate being, each living organism possesses a soul. About the innumerablc number of the Jiva Nahar writes, “This soul substance of the Jains is not a single all
31. Glasenapp, The Doctrine of Karma in Jain Philosophy (1942) p. 2. 3. 32 J. L. Jaini, Outline of Jainism, (1979) p. 17. 18. 33. Dr. G. N. Joshi, Atmã and Moksa, (1965), p. 232.