Atma Dharma

Author(s): Champat Rai Jain
Publisher: Champat Rai Jain

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sume the presence of a soul. The substance or thing which is the abode of consciousness is the soul itself, for attributes always inhere in substances* and cannot exist independently of them.
How many kinds of substances are there in the universe ? Jivat (Life or the substance of Life) is, of course, one, with its special property or attribute of consciousness. Apart from it, we also perceive another substance which is not endowed with consciousness but which possesses sensible properties--touch, colour, smell, sound and taste. Any one can directly perceive this substance by observing the things--pen, ink, tables, chairs, clothes, hair, bones, nails, and the like-with which he is surrounded. These are all unconscious
*Cf. "Existence is the hall-mark of substance, that is, what has always been, and always will be ; it exists in the form of origination, destruction and continuance; further, what rests on attributes and modifications, or forms, is what the all knowing masters (Tirthamkaras) have termed dravya (substance)." ---Kundkundacharya.
| Cf." From one point of view, that is with reference to its infinite attributes, it is characterised by many-ness; looked at without distinction of attributes which never desert it, it is ever one; with respect to its changing modalities, it is evanescent and perishing; as regards its attributes and continuity of substance, it is enduring and eternal, being always manifest; as knowledge, it is all-pervading in so far as it knows all things; in point of form, it abides in its own extension or size ;-even such is the unique natural glory of this soul.”-Amrita Chandra.