Concept of Paryaya in Jain Philosophy

Author(s): S R Bhatt, Jitendra B Shah
Publisher: L D Indology Ahmedabad

Page 61

The Concept of Paryaya and Jaina Way of Life 49 the attributes of substance (guna paryaya), and (2) modifications in its physical or material forms (dravya paryaya). And these modifications occur in one or other of the two ways: either self-originated or effected by some external agency or in which other substance has a role to play. The self-originated modification is natural modification in which potentiality becomes actuality and the substance, in this case self, realises its intrinsic nature. Thus, an oak seed or acorn will grow into an oak and not any other kind of tree. As Aristotle says, "Although it is not yet actually an oak, nevertheless it is so potentially;" that is to say, it will in due course, become an oak, if it is not interfered with22 by external forces or environmental influences or internal distortions or perversions consequent upon or resulting there from. In other words, modification or rather any kind of change, which we know as growth, is the development of the potentiality already latent in the organism, the result being that what was potential becomes actual, i.e. it becomes so and so because it is so and so, "for the process of Becoming or development," Aristotle points out, "attends upon Being and is for the sake of Being, not vice versa."23 Thus, enlightened vision, knowledge and conduct, representing the three aspects (feeling, thought and volition) of Being or consciousness, leads to the fullest development of the personality, when unconditioned by passions arising out of association of material karma. This formula of potentiality becoming actuality is not limited to the growth of natural organisms alone. The realisation of the intrinsic nature of the self is not to be confused with the "initial nature" of the child in this life because the child is born in the world with his or her karmic baggage from his previous lives. As this karmic association of self is beginning-less, it is not possible to find the initial beginning. According to Jainism, intrinsic nature of self is pure and is imbued with peace and happiness. Accordingly, Jainism has positive outlook about human nature. The intrinsic nature of the self is, thus, equated with the fullest development of all the faculties and powers, physical, mental and spiritual, inherent in him. The process of development comes to an end when the highest point of its development is realised. The nature of the process of change or growth is what takes place when an unfinished or growing thing becomes finished or mature. The modifications or changes which are effected in a substance by some external agency are unnatural modifications in which the qualities