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

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

Page 42

PHILOSOPHY
The Sanjni Panchendriya jivas possess 6) Man Paryäpti (capacity of rational thinking) in addition to the above five.
Depending upon the development of the Paryäptis, the living beings are also classified as:
Paryäpta Jiva
Aparyäpta Jiva
Paryäpta Jivas means they have developed Paryäptis to its full capacity while Aparyäpta Jivas have not developed Paryäptis to its full capacity.
Präna (Vitality)
Depending upon the development of living beings, they have up to ten kinds of präns or vitality. They are:
B04 Six Universal Substances I: Jiva or Living Being
• Sparsha-Indriya (Touch): Ability to feel the sensation of touch
Ras-Indriya (Taste): Ability to taste
• Ghrän-Indriya (Smell): Ability to smell
⚫ Chakshu-Indriya Vision): Ability to see
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Shravan-Indriya (Hearing): Ability to hear
Mano-bal (Mind): Ability to think
Vachan-bal (Speech): Ability to speak
Käyä-bal (Body): Ability to move the body
Shväso-chchhväs (Respiration): Ability to inhale and exhale
Ayushya (Longevity): Ability to live
The Ekendriya Jivas possess only four Präns: They possess touch, body, respiration, and longevity. The Beindriya Jivas possess six präns. They possess the taste and speech vitality in addition, to the above four präns.
The Treindriya Jivas possess seven präns. They possess the smell vitality, in addition, to the above six präns.
The Chaurindriya Jivas possess eight präns. They possess the vision vitality in addition to the above seven präns.
The Panchendriya Jivas are divided into two groups:
⚫ The Asanjni (non-sentient) Jivas, whose minds are not fully developed.
⚫ The Sanjni (sentient) Jivas, whose minds are fully developed.
The Asanjni Panchendriya Jivas possess nine präns. They possess hearing vitality in addition to the above eight präns.
The Sanjni Panchendriya Jivas possess ten Pränas. They possess mind vitality in addition to the above nine präns.
Thorough understanding of vitalities is very important for leading a life of non-violence. Any injury, no matter how little, to any of these vitalities of a living being, is considered violence. The degree of violence committed is greater and graver when committed to living beings that possess more vitalities. Also, more injury caused to a given vitality, more is the violence committed. When we do Himsä, our soul accumulates bad Karma or Päp (sin). Therefore, to prevent the accumulation of karma, observe Ahimsa- nonviolence related to all of these ten präns for all the categories of Jivas.. Now you may understand why we say "Ahimsa Parmo Dharma" (Nonviolence is the supreme religion), because by observing Ahimsa we are protecting the vitality of the soul.
Page 42 of 398
Compendium of Jainism - 2015