Biology in Jaina Treatise on Reals

Author(s): N L Jain
Publisher: Parshwanath Vidyapith

Page 77

Biology in Jaina Treatise on Reals
non-common to other realties. Hence, called the intrinsic charcteristics of the soul.
24.Q The soul is non-mattergic. It cannot be subjugated by karmic mattergies. Hence, they cannot be its transformations.
A.
This is not correct. The soul is eternally bonded with karmas. This bond develops special energy which is associated with the soul like the consciousness which is the eternal inherent property of the soul and it is designated as conscious because of it. The different modes of destinity (like hellish etc.) and knowledge (like sensory etc.) are also specific states of the conscious soul. These states are also designated as consciousness. Secondly, the soul is eternally associaated with karmic body like karmas, hence it becomes somehow mattergic too. It can, therefore, have specific states of destinity and knowledge. Under this condition, the soul is not non-mattergic. 25. Secondly, the eternal karmic-bond-succession subjugates the soul. Thus, the non-mattergic nature of the soul should be dealt with polyviewistic approach. The soul is mattergic with respect to its identicality with Karmic bond. It may, however, be non-mattergic with respect to its intrinsic charactertistics of knowledge etc.
The above flaw applies only in the case of absolutist view of nonmattergicity of the soul.
26. Thirdly, it is observed that when a person drinks alcohol, he looses his memory and becomes static like non-living wood. Everybody knows that the alcohol is intoxicating, deluding and whirling in nature. Similarly, the karmically subjugated soul also looses its own characteristics and it becomes mattergic.
27.Q. It is contended that alcohol infatuates the senses like eye etc. and they are mattergic in nature because of their five elmental nature This cannot subjugate the non-mattergic soul.
A. There are two-fold flaws in this logic. It is to be asked whether the senses are conscious. If they are not conscious, the alcohol cannot infatuate them. If it is so, it should have the same effect on its containers. If they are conscious, they could be so only due to their association with consciousness. They are not conscious by themselves independently. The conscious is only the soul. Thus, it is the consciousness which is effected by the alcohol.
Q. It is contended (by Carvākas) that a specific combination of earth etc. causes the living beings to manifest their pain and pleasures like the intoxication power due to fermented liquors form jaggery etc.
A. This is not proper. The colour etc. are the qualities of earth etc. They undergo gradual changes in creepers and woods etc. This type of gradual loss of pain and pleasure is not observed in different parts of the body. It is simultaneously felt all over the body. Hence, pain and pleasures are not the qualities of earth etc.
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