Abhidharma And Jainism

SR No.: 269419
Original Sutra Author: N/A
Author: Johannes Bronkhorst
Publisher: Johannes Bronkhorst
Total Pages: 10
Language: English
Classification: Article
File Size: 2 MB

Page 10

49) The notion of a soul having the size of the thumb is not unknown to early Indian literature either; cp. KathUp 4.12-13; 6.17; SASUp 3.13; 5.8-9; Mhbh 3. 281.16; 5.45.24 (angusthamatra purusal Jiva). Note however that Patanjali's Mahabhasya distinguishes between a bodily self and an inner self: Sariratma tat karma kuroti yenantaratma sukhaduhkhe anubhavati (Maha-bh II p. 681.21-22, on P. 3.1.87 vt. 10). The view that early Vaisesika accepted a body sized soul is far from certain, and may indeed be mistaken; cp. Johannes Bronkhorst, Studies on Bhartrhari, 5: Bhartshari and Vaisesika," AS 47(1), 1993, pp. 7594, esp. p. 871. 50) K. K. Dixit, Early Jainism, L. D. Institute of Indology, Ahmedabad, 1978 (L. D. Series, 64), p. 9. Cp. Dundas, The Jains, p. 84: "The notion of karma as a substance pervading the universe and being attracted to the jiva by the latter's actions was unknown to the earliest Jain teaching" (diacritics added). 51) Utt 33.16-17 (L p. 218; J p. 194-95)/33.1361-62 (B p. 283). 52) Ayara 1.2.6.99 (B p. 29)/1.2.6.99 (D p. 95)/1.2.6.163 & 5.3.59 (L p. 27 & 43)/1.2.6. 3 & 5.3.5 (S p. 12, 23; J): muni monam samayaya/'yae dhune kammasariragam (the Bombay and Delhi editions have at the second occurrence of this line (1.5.3.161 (B p. 51)/1.5.3.155 (D p. 142)) sariragam instead of kammasariragam). Jacobi simply translated body': "A sage, acquiring sagedom, should subdue his body" or "A sage adopting a life of wisdom, should treat his body roughly". The Jaina tradition itself, by reading the second time sariraga (unacceptable for metrical reasons), appears to have accepted this interpretation. 53) So Thana 5.1.23-31 (L p. 684)/5.1.395 (B p. 175; D p. 196); Thana 6.11 (L p. 719)/ 6.483 (B p. 206; D p. 236); Sam 152 (B p. 457; D p. 94)/Prakirnaka 158-171 (L p. 934). 54) Schubring, The Doctrine of the Jainas, p. 137. 55) Viy 8.9.366 f. (L p. 376f.)/8.9.24 f. (B p. 383f.)/8.9.303 f. (Lalw III p. 242f.); Deleu, Viyahapannatti, p. 155-56. 56) According to the Tattvartha Sutra (2.42) two types of body-the karma body and the fiery body-accompany the soul from beginningless times, also between births. Interestingly, the Yoga Bhasya on sutra 4.10 (cp. Johannes Bronkhorst, "Patanjali and the Yoga sutras," Stil 10, 1984, 191-212, esp. p. 207) refers to others" who ascribe a similar function to the mind-complex (citta). The fact that this mind-complex is said to have the size and the form of the body and is in this connection compared to a lamp which fills the space in which it is placed, just like the soul according to Viy 7.8 and the Rayapase. naijja referred to above, suggests that this notion did not arise independently of the Jaina notion of the soul. (Professor, Universit de Lausanne) 581 (30)