________________
... [355]...
CHAPTER XVIII
PERIOD OF CONTINUOUS PERSISTENCE OF
ONE MODE
This chapter is devoted to the consideration of the question as to how much period of time a substance-living or non-livingwhich is included in the 'kāya' group can continuously have one particular mode. In other words, it lays down the minimum and maximum periods for which one individual substance can continuously belong to a particular class from among so many possible in its case. First it is necessary to understand the difference between the subject-matter of the fourth chapter called 'Sthitipada' and that of the present chapter called 'Kayasthitipada'. The subject-matter of the former is bhavasthiti whereas that of the latter is kāyasthiti. Bhavasthiti means a period of time for which a living being lives in its one birth only. On the other hand, kāyasthiti means a period of time for which a living being can continuously be a member of one class in its several consecutive births. Moreover, the fourth chapter considers the question of bhavasthiti in connection with living beings only whereas the present chapter considers the question of kayasthiti in connection with even non-living substances, viz. dharmāstikaya etc. which are known as kāya (astikāya). That is, this present chapter discusses also the question as to how long a particular non-living substance can continuously have a particular mode.
Satkhandagama discusses the question of sthiti (bhavasthiti) keeping in view one living being as also many living beings. Moreover, therein the enquiry is conducted in terms of 14 mārganästhānas, viz. gati etc. as also in terms of 14 guṇasthānas. Satkhandagama too contains an exposition of kāyasthiti similar to the one found in the present chapter. But it conducts this exposition too in terms of 14 margaņāsthānas and 14 guṇasthånas.2
The present chapter conducts its exposition of kāyasthiti in terms of 22 padas' instead of 14 märgaņāsthānas employed in Satkhandägama. The list of 22 padas' is given below. And the list of 14 dväras (märganāsthanas) accepted in Satkhandāgama on the basis of similar dväras mentioned elsewhere is also given below.
1. 'kāya iha paryāyaḥ parigțhyate'--Prajñāpanātikā, folio 375. 2. Refer to Şaţkhandāgama (“Kālānugama'), Book IV, pp. 313, 357 & Book
VII, pp. 114, 462.
Jain Education International
For Private & Personal Use Only
www.jainelibrary.org
