Tattvartha Sutra

SR No.: 006796
Original Sutra Author: N/A
Author: Sukhlal Sanghavi, K K Dixit
Publisher: L D Indology Ahmedabad
Publication Year: 2000
Total Pages: 596
Language: English
Classification: Book_English, Tattvartha Sutra, & Tattvarth
File Size: 10 MB

Page 252

CHAPTER TWO
Digambara sect from the word ca (and) occurring in the aphorism. 7.
The Defining Characteristic of a Soul:
Upayoga or cognitive operation is the defining characteristic of a soul. 8.
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The Jiva or soul-also called atman or conscious entityis an independent substance existing there ever since a beginningless time. Since ultimately speaking it is devoid of colour its knowledge cannot be had through sense-organs-though it can well be had through a self-cognitive perception or an inference. Even so, to an average investigator such a defining characteristic ought to be pointed out as should enable him to recognise a soul. It is with this end in view that the defining characteristic of a soul has been laid down in the present aphorism. The soul is what is to be defined-the object to be known, upayoga its defining characteristic-the means of knowing. The universe is a conglomerate of numerous entities, physical and conscious. Among these if a discriminitive ascertainment is to be made as to what is physical and what is conscious that can be done only through the instrumentality of upayoga. For to some extent or other upayoga is invariably found in all souls. Certainly, a physical entity is one that is devoid of upayoga.
Question: But what is this upayoga ?
Answer: It is nothing but an operation of the form of
cognition.
Question: The activity designated cognition is found in a soul but not in a physical entity. Why is it so ?
Answer: The cause of cognition is the power of consciousness; so cognition can be found only in that which is possessed of this power. And this power is possessed only by a soul, not by a physical entity.
Question: A soul is an independent substance and so it ought to be possessed of a number of qualities. Why then is upayoga alone declared to be its defining characteristic ?