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The Concept of Matter in Jaina Philosophy
A comparative study of the Jaina concept of Matter with those of other Indian systems of thought and the physica? sciences reveals that it comes nearer to the concept of Matter of the physical sciences, as it is conceived as the substance in the sense of stuff of which the universe is constituted. It is one of the ultimate principles or substances of which phenomena are manifestations.
Matter is conceived by Jaina metaphysics az eternal, nonliving, extensive, corporeal, concrete, active, subject to dissociation and combination, changeable, infinite, co-extensive with The Universe, possessed of the capacity to be received by Soul and to be of assistance to it. Its function is to form the basis of the body and the organs of speech, mind and respiration and also to contribute to pleasure, suffering, life and death of living beings.
The second chapter makes an analysis of the elements of Matter in the light of the conceptions of the elements of Matter as embodied in other Indian philosophies and the physical sciences by making comparative study of this problem. Jaina Fudgala represents the elements of Matter. Earth, water, shadow, the objects of the four senses--sense of hearing, sense of smell, sense of taste and sense of touch, except the sense of sight, kar. mic matter and atom (paramānu) constitute the material universe in the forms of molecules and discrete atoms. Earth, water, fire, air, and ākāśa (ether) have been accepted by other indian systems of thought as the elements of Matter.
There appears to be a close relation of the structure of elements of Matter conceived by Jaina metaphysics with those of elements of Matter as embodied in other Indian philosophies.
The third chapter deals with the problem of Indriyas (senseorgans), Karmapudgala (Karmic matter) and Leśyā (condition of Soul). A comparative study of Indriyas by all Indian systems of thought reveals that the Jaina concept of Indriyas analysed from the physical and psychical aspects is more subtle and tho
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