________________
moment that is different than the moment the bottom one is split. Therefore, the time taken in tearing one thread is not one Samaya.
At this the disciple asks again
Is the time taken by that son of a tailor to tear the fibre at the top equal to one Samaya ?
(Teacher) No, it is not so. (Student) Why?
(Teacher) Because one fibre is produced by progressive assimilation of numerous integrations of many aggregates of infinite sanghats (aggregates of ultimate-particles) and without disintegration of the sanghat at the top, that at the bottom does not disintegrate. Thus the sanghat at the top disintegrates at a moment that is different than the moment the bottom one disintegrates. Therefore, the time taken in tearing the fibre at the top is not one Samaya. O long lived Shraman! Samaya is still very minute than this.
Elaboration—The terms like second, minute, hour, day-night, month, which we generally call time are in fact gross units of time. Time is that subtle but all pervading entity through which any and all transformations of all substances find expression at the subtlest level The time scale is standardized on the basis of those changes or transformations The smallest indivisible unit of time is called Samaya As the ultimate-particle is indivisible so is Samaya, the ultimate fraction of time
Defining Samaya, Jain Acharyas state that the time taken by one ultimate-particle in going to the adjacent ultimate-particle at optimum speed is called one Samaya. The smallest unit of time that we are able to recognize is an aggregate of uncountable Samayas The example of a tailor tearing a piece of cloth here is related to gross Samaya That is why it concludes with the statement that Samaya is still very minute than this. In a mere blink of eyes uncountable Samayas pass. Even the most modern scientific instruments have yet to actually measure that minute fraction of time The following aphorism details the units of time such as avalika which is an aggregate of innumerable Samayas
कालप्रमाण-प्रकरण
(153)
The Discussion on Kaal Pramana
*
*
*
Jain Education International
For Private & Personal Use Only
www.jainelibrary.org
