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## Chapter 24: The Essence of Living and Non-Living
**507**
The essence of the living being has been briefly explained in this 24th chapter. Now, O bearer of wisdom, understand the essence of the non-living as well. ||5||
The essence of the non-living is described in five categories: Dharma, Adharma, Akasha, Kala, and Pudgala. ||12||
Dharma is the cause that assists the movement of the living being and Pudgala, while Adharma is the cause that assists their stillness. ||13||
These two, Dharma and Adharma, are the causes of movement and stillness, but they themselves are not the movers. They assist the movement and stillness of the living being and Pudgala. ||134||
Just as a fish cannot move without water, but water does not move the fish, similarly, the living being and Pudgala cannot move without Dharma, but Dharma does not move them. However, just as water supports the fish while it moves, Dharma supports the living being and Pudgala while they move. ||135||
Just as the shade of a tree provides shelter to a man who desires it, but does not move him, and yet is the cause of his stillness, similarly, Adharma, being indifferent, provides stillness to the living being and Pudgala, but does not move them. ||136-137||
Akasha is the space that provides a place for the living being and other entities to exist. It is intangible, formless, pervades everywhere, and is inactive. ||138||
Kala is characterized by its movement. It is the support of both itself and other entities, like the living being. It is the cause of the transformation of all entities according to their own qualities and forms. ||139||
Just as the stone beneath the potter's wheel is the cause of its rotation, similarly, Kala is the cause of the transformation of all entities, as wise people have explained. ||140||
**Meaning:**
1. The cause of movement.
2. The cause of stillness.
3. Of the living being and Pudgala.
4. The cause of Adharma.
5. Dharma is the support.
6. That which supports itself and other entities.
7. That which causes transformation.