$JES 904 Compendium of Jainism (Jain Academic Bowl Manual 3rd Edition)

Author(s): JAINA Education Committee
Publisher: JAINA Education Committee

Page 38

PHILOSOPHY
B04 Six Universal Substances I: Jiva or Living Being
B04 Six Universal Substances I: Jiva or Living Being
01 Jain Reality
Jainism states that the universe is without a beginning or an end, and is everlasting and eternal. Six fundamental substances or entities known as Dravya constitute the universe. Although all six entities are eternal, they continuously undergo countless changes known as Paryäya. During these transformations nothing is created or destroyed and fundamental properties or qualities of the base substance remain unchanged which are known as Gunas (qualities).
Lord Mahavir explained this phenomenon in his Three Pronouncements known as Tripadi:
उप्पन्नेइ वा, विगमेइ वा, धुवेइ वा ।।
Uppannei vä, Vigamei vä, Dhuvei vä II
He proclaimed that Existence or Reality (also known as Sat) is a combination of appearance (Utpäd or Uppannei vä), disappearance (Vyaya or Vigamei vä), and persistence (Dhrauvya or Dhuvei vä).
02 Shad Dravyas (Six Universal Substances)
Jain Philosophy does not give credence to the theory that the God is the creator, survivor, or destroyer of the universe. On the contrary, it asserts that the universe has always existed and will always exist in exact adherence to the laws of the cosmos. There is nothing but infinity both in the past and in the future. The universe consists of two classes of objects:
Living beings Conscious, Soul, Chetan, or Jiva Non-living objects Unconscious, Achetan, or Ajiva
Non-living objects are further classified into five categories:
Pudgal
Äkäsha
Matter
Space
Medium of motion
Medium of rest
Time
Käl or Samay
These six entities, five non-livings and one living being, are described as aspects of reality in Jainism. They are also known as the six universal entities, substances, or realities.
Dharmästikäya
Adharmästikäya
These six entities of the universe are eternal. There is no beginning and no end of any one of these entities. However, they continuously undergo countless changes. During the changes, nothing is lost or destroyed. Everything transform into another form.
Page 38 of 398
As explained above Jainism believes that the universe is made from the combination of the six universal substances. All of the six substances are indestructible, imperishable, immortal, eternal and continuously go through countless changes.
03 Jiva (Soul or Living being)
The Soul or Self is variously known as Jiva, Ätmä, Paramätmä, Chaitanya, and consciousness. The basic characteristic of soul as defined in the Jain scripture is "Upayoga Lakshano Jivah". It means that the soul is capable to know, think, and meditate. Soul is also known as awareness. This attribute is inseparable from consciousness.
Compendium of Jainism - 2015