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Concept of Consciousness In Jainism
There are eight types of soul - 1. A soul as a substance (dravyātmā) 2. A soul with passions (kaṣāyatmā) 3. A soul with activities of mind, speech and body (yogātmā) 4. A soul with cognitive activity (upayogātmā) 5. A soul with attribute of knowledge (jñānātmā) 6. A soul with attribute of intuition (darśanātmā) 7. A soul with conduct (cāritrātmā) and 8. A soul with attribute of internal power (vīryātmā)3. Basically a soul is a substance, but when it exhibits any of the above characteristics or it enjoins passions etc. then it is addressed by respective names.
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Consciousness and its various levels
Consciousness can be technically termed as 'upayoga' in Jainism. Upayoga is an application of cognitive and intuitive ability of a soul. Consciousness includes an attitude, vision and conduct of a living being. Cognition of happiness and sorrow also denote consciousness. There are many levels of consciousness; we can put them in the following categories:
1) Consciousness as apramattatā or alertness.
2) Consciousness as upayoga or knowing activity.
3) Consciousness as prāṇa (active ability of sense organs, mind, speech, body, respiration and life-span).
4) Consciousness in mind
5) Consciousness in body
6) Consciousness as sañjñā (eagerness to eat, feeling fear,
sexual desire, desire of possessiveness).
7) Consciousness as vedanā
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8) Consciousness expressed in virya or enthusiasm.
Vyakhyāprajñaptisūtra, Śataka 12, Uddeśaka 10, Sūtra 1
