________________
180
The Concept of Matter in Jaina Philosophy
formation) it takes place out of the straight line. I
MOTION IN THE NYAYA-VAISESIKA
PHILOSOPHY In the Nyāya-Vaiśesika “motion is characterized as the unconditional cause of conjunction and disjunction.”] The four material substances, viz. earth, water, fire and air, are capable of motion because of having limited magnitude. According to this philosophy, motion is instantaneous (kşanika) and uproductive of another motion ( svajātfyānārambhaka.3 ) The Vaišeșika maintains that every material object moving in a particular direction must by necessary implication possess the quality of impulse (vega), 4 which makes the continuity of its motion in the same direction possible. The quality of impulse is produced in a moving body by its first unit of motion, and so long as the impulse of the body is not neutralized by some other force, it will continue to move in the direction of its original motion.5 Impulse is a type of quality of samskāra. It is produced from one motion and leads to an other, just as the mental impression is the product of a previous experience and the cause of a subsequent one, viz. recollection. In regard 1. Anuśrenigatiḥ, TS., 2.27, p. 180;
Sarvā gatirjīvānāṁ pudgalānām cākāśapradeśānuśreņirbhavati, viśreņirnabhavatiti gatiniyama iti, Ibid. Bhā. p. 181; Avigrahā jīvasya, TS., 2. 28; Vigrahavati ca saṁsāliņaḥ
prāk caturbhyaḥ, TS., 2. 29, p. 182. 2. Ekadravyamaguņam samyogavibhāgesvanapeksakāraṇamiti
karmalaksanam, VS., 1. 1. 17. 3. PPBhā., p. 290, Gunapadārthānirupaņam, 4. Ibid.
5. Ibid., p. 266. 6. Samskárastrividhaḥ vego bhāvanā sthitisthāpakaśca tatra
vego mūitimatsu pañcasu dravyeșu nimittaviścsāpeksāt karmaṇo jāyate niyatadikkriyā prabhandhahetuḥ sparśavaddravyasamyoga-višesa-virodhi-kvacit kāraṇaguņapūrva kramotpadyate, PPBhā., p. 646:
Jain Education International
For Private & Personal Use Only
www.jainelibrary.org