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unchanged. Therefore, the bar, the chain and the bangle are transient forms (Paryaya) while gold is the matter (Dravya), which remains constant. A living being through the process of growth undergoes various changes such as childhood, youth, and old age. These changes are the natural modifications of the living being. Childhood, youth, and old age are transient forms (Paryaya) of a living being. The soul of the living being is a permanent substance (Dravya). Similarly, when we die, we will be born in another body. Therefore, the body is also a transient form while our soul is the permanent substance (Dravya). A soul is a substance (Dravya) that has innumerable qualities such as knowledge (Jnän), bliss (Anand) and energy (Virya). The knowledge quality, for example, may increase or decrease but there is never a time when the soul is without knowledge; otherwise, it would become, by definition, a non-soul, a lifeless material. According to Jainism, the number of various substances existing at present existed in the past and will continue to exist in future. There cannot be any increase or decrease in that number. All the transformations take place according to their properties and potentialities, and in course of time, one form may get destroyed and cease to exist and another form may emerge. However, Dravya remains constant.
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JAIN PHILOSOPHY AND PRACTICE -2
