Sramana 2016 01

SR No.: 525095
Original Sutra Author: N/A
Author: Shreeprakash Pandey, Rahulkumar Singh, Omprakash Singh
Publisher: Parshvanath Vidhyashram Varanasi
Publication Year: 2016
Total Pages: 114
Language: Hindi
Classification: Magazine, India_Sramana, & India
File Size: 14 MB

Page 69

62 Śramana, Vol 67, No. 1, January-March 2016
Jaina philosophy is specific in this regard. It stresses that the soul of living beings resides within the body. Every living being is having a different or independent soul. A soul is a knower; sense organs, mind and brain are the instruments for knowing the objects. This soul has a nature of consciousness which serves consciousness in different parts of the body including brain, nervous system and every cell.
It is difficult to define a soul, but consciousness is the very nature of a soul. According to Uttaradhyayana-sūtra knowledge (jñāna) intuition or observation (darśana), conduct (caritra), penance (tapa), internal power (vīrya) and cognitive application (upayoga) are the nature of a soul. We can know a soul through its attributes or activities. Knowledge (jñāna) and apprehension or intitution (darśana) are the main characteristic of a soul. In Vyakhyāprajñapti Sūtra, it is stated that soul is knowledge (right or perverted) and knowledge is soul. Soul is darśana and darśana is soul.2 In this way the nature of a soul can be defined as knowledge (jñāna) and intuition (darśana). Application of these two is called as upayoga. This upayoga consciousness.
There are eight types of soul - 1. a soul as a substance (dravyātmā), 2. a soul with passions (kaṣāyātmā), 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 (cāritrāmā) 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 the respective names.
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.