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

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

Page 39

PHILOSOPHY
B04 - Six Universal Substances l: Jiva or Living Being
The soul is the only living substance. Soul is invisible and has no form or shape. It cannot be experienced by the senses. It is intangible, invisible, colorless, odorless, tasteless, formless, and shapeless. An infinite number of souls exist in the universe. In its pure form a soul without karma particles possesses infinite knowledge, infinite perception, infinite energy, and infinite bliss. The pure or perfect soul is also defined as Sat, Chit and Anand Sachchidananda meaning eternal, conscious, and bliss respectively. Some sages have described soul as "Neti, Neti" (Not this, not that) meaning it cannot be described. It can however be experienced by dwelling deep within oneself. In its impure form a soul with karma particles attached, each soul possesses limited knowledge, limited perception, limited energy, and experiences pleasure and pain. From time to time, worldly soul resides in different life forms through which it manifests itself. This type of transmigration and new embodiment, birth after birth, has been going on since the beginning of time The main qualities of worldly soul are; it grows, decays, fluctuates, varies, eats, sleeps, awakes, acts, fears, rests, has limited knowledge and perception, attempts to self-defend, and reproduces. It pervades the entire body it occupies. Classification of Jiva
All living beings are classified into two major categories: Liberated or Siddha Jiva Non-liberated or Samsäri Jiva
1. Siddha Jiva (Liberated Soul) Liberated souls are known as Siddhas. They have no Karma and therefore, they no longer go through the cycles of birth and death. They are formless and devoid of body. They reside at the uppermost part of the universe just above Siddha-shilä. They have infinite knowledge, infinite perception, infinite energy, and infinite bliss. All Siddhas are an individual soul and they all are equal in their qualities, status, and nature. There are an infinite number of liberated souls. 2. Samsäri Jiva (Worldly Soul) There are an infinite number of worldly souls. Worldly soul is the one, which is not yet liberated due to bondage of karma particles. They have to go through the cycles of birth and death until they are liberated. They have limited knowledge, perception, energy, and bliss. They possess a definite shape, form, and body. Worldly souls enjoy or suffer as a result of Karma bondage. However, all worldly souls have a potential to be liberated and become Siddha. Worldly or the embodied soul is generally called Jiva. Worldly soul's qualities are as follows:
Limited knowledge • Limited Vision
Limited Power Limited Bliss Possesses a body plants, hellish, animal, human, or angel Wanders in the cycle of life and death Suffers from birth, death, pain, and pleasure
Doer of all kinds of Karma actions • Enjoyer of the fruits of the Karma
Infinite number of worldly souls • Capable of becoming free from worldly life
Compendium of Jainism - 2015
Page 39 of 398