Disclaimer: This translation does not guarantee complete accuracy, please confirm with the original page text.
5.30] The nature of opposition-avoidance and resultant permanence can be understood, hence the nature of the substance (sat) is explained according to both perspectives. 29.
The nature of opposition-avoidance and resultant permanence
That which does not deviate from its essence (its nature) is permanent. 30.
In the previous sutra, it was stated that a single substance is characterized by production, expenditure, and duality, meaning it is both stable and unstable (dual-natured). However, the question arises: how is this possible? How can what is stable be unstable? And how can what is unstable be stable? Both stability and instability cannot coexist in the same substance at the same time, as they are mutually contradictory like cold and hot. Therefore, isn’t the explanation of the substance as being characterized by production and expenditure contradictory? To resolve this contradiction, the purpose of this sutra is to establish the nature of permanence according to Jain philosophy. If, like some other philosophies, Jainism also accepted the view that "a substance remains in the same form without any change," then it would lead to a contradiction regarding the coexistence of stability and instability within a single substance, as permanence would not be possible in such a concept. Similarly, if Jain philosophy regarded a substance merely as momentary, meaning it is produced and destroyed every instant without any permanent basis, then permanence would again lead to contradiction concerning the characteristic of production and expenditure. However, Jain philosophy does not regard a substance as merely enduring or merely resultant; it holds that substances are of the nature of resultant permanence. Thus, all entities experience transformation (production-expenditure) according to their causes while remaining stable in their inherent nature. Therefore, there is no contradiction in the occurrence of duality and the characteristics of production-expenditure concerning the original nature (substance). Jain philosophy’s doctrine of resultant permanence is not limited to inert (matter) as in Samkhya philosophy, but also occurs in conscious entities.
To broadly accept the doctrine of resultant permanence among all entities, the main proof is experience. When viewed closely, no entity can be found that is purely unchanging or solely quantitative. All external and internal entities appear to be of resultant permanence. If all entities were merely momentary, new entities would be produced and destroyed in every instant...