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અધ્યા મતવાલાક,
man.
According to Jain Philosophy there are two main categories in the Universe; Jiva and Ajiva, Consciousness and Matter. Jiva is otherwise called Atman. The category of Jiva includes two states, (1) Mundane consciousness, e.g. like that of a normally walking man and (2) Pure consciousness or jnanaswarupa which is attained when all the bonds of karma drop off. The category of Ajiva includes five substances. (1) Space (Akash ), (2) Time (kala ), (3) Matter (Pudgala ), (4) Motion (Dharma ), (5) Stationariness (Adharma). None of these has the qualification of soul.
Jiva and Karma have been in the existence from time without beginning. Every system of philosophy proceeds on certain fundamental assumptions, which are taken as being in no way amenable to further analysis. Jainism propounds that Jiva and Karma are joined together from Anādi time. How to dissolve this conjunction of soul and matter or Karma is the principal problem which the Jain philosophy sets itself to solve and solve successfully.
What is Jiva? As it is, it is consciousness encased in a glass-house prepared by karma. The ideal aimed at is to break this glass-house open and to set Jiva at liberty. Jiva is conscious i. e. wills, thinks and acts. Jainism believes in the existence of innumerable Jivas. All the Jivas resemble in one respect, namely in having consciousness but they differ as regards their knowledge.
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