Illuminator of Jaina Tenets

SR No.: 006924
Original Sutra Author: N/A
Author: Tulsi Acharya
Publisher: Jain Vishva Bharati
Publication Year: 1985
Total Pages: 252
Language: English
Classification: Book_English
File Size: 25 MB

Page 91

Sūtras 12-13)
Soul and Non-soul
production of material capacity functioning as appropriation, transformation and elimination of alimentary matter. The bio-potentials of body etc. are also to be understood similarly. All the six bio-potentials come into existence at the time of rebirth, but the development of the alimentary bio-potential takes place in one instant and of the rest within one muhurta gradually. An organism born in a particular state of existence is developed or underdeveloped in respect of bio-potentials according as the development of its relevant bio-potentials has reached completion or remains incomplete. १२. तदपेक्षिणी जीवनशक्तिः प्राणः। 12. tadapekșiņi jīvanaśaktiḥ prāṇaḥ.
(Aph.) Prāņa means the bio-energy which is dependent upon paryapti (bio-potentials). (XII)
(Note) In connection with the Jaina concepts of prāna and paryāpti, there are special considerations in the light of the modern conception of life as an energy capable of organising matter gathered from outside into the body of a living organism.'
In modern terms paryapti means the power of “organisation" of material from the environment into special pattern.
"All living things are 'organised', even if, like a virus, they consist of little more than protein and nucleic acids............. This 'organisation' is a highly improbable state for matter to be in. All inanimate matter--and dead matter--tends to become more and more disordered and randomly scattered. To a physicist, this is known as the tendency to increase 'entropy', for entropy is simply a measure of disorder. To counter this probable tendency, energy is required, so living things can only retain their organised state-of low entropy-by respiration and the production of energy.” Mind Alive, Vol. I, p. 22.
The Jaina conception of prāna and paryāpti comes very near the modern idea of 'energy' mentioned in the above quotation. It has already been mentioned in the present aphorism that the bio-energy is präna needed for paryapti. The paryāptis are bio-potentials that are brought to their proper functioning by the power of prāna, in the absence of which they are incapable of attaining their maturity. १३. इन्द्रियबलोच्छ्वासनिःश्वासाऽऽयूंषि । ... पञ्च इन्द्रियाणि मनोवाक्कायरूपं बलत्रयम् उच्छ्वासनिाश्वासाऽऽयु
para fett: : 1
पर्याप्तीनां प्राणानां च योग एव जोवनं, तेषां वियोगश्च मृत्युः। 13. Indriyabalo'cchväsaniņśvāsā'yūmși.
pasca indriyāņi manovākkāyarūpam balatrayam ucchväsaniḥšvāsa