Doctrine of Liberation in Indian Religion

Author(s): Shivkumarmuni
Publisher: Munshiram Manoharlal Publisher's Pvt Ltd New Delhi

Page 59

THE DOCTRINE OF THE SELF
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body due to its material vitalities (dravyaprāņas). They are of five senses namely, smell, sight, hearing, taste and touch; three powers of body, mind, speech and body; age and breathing. They are ten in number and are found in different degrees according to the kinds of selves.70 This is the phenomenal aspect of self.
The Tattvārthasāra enumerates a tenfold classification of beings in the following manner :
The jīva is of one kind from the standpoint of its common essence which is the life principle. It is of two kinds according as it is liberated or in bondage. It can be of three kinds : imperfect, nearly perfect, and perfect. With respect to its state of existence the jiva is divided into four classes namely, hellish-existence, sub-human-existence, humanexistence and divine-existence. The jīva is of five kinds according to its five conditions namely, mitigation, annihilation, partial annihilation and partial mitigation, modification and genesis or rising. The six modes of cognition divide the jiva ino six classes. A sevenfold hypothetical classification of beings based on the principle of saptabhamginaya yields seven classes of jīva. The eight modes of karma yield eight classes of jīva. The nine categories make the jīva of nine kinds. Finally ten classes of jīva are mentioned; this tenfold classification is based on ten faculties mentioned above. 71
Here attention may be invited to the Buddhist list of states of existence where the following six gatis are recognised :
1. hellish (naraka); 2. animal (tiryak); 3. ghost (preta); .. .4. demon (asura); 5. human (manuşya); 6. divine (deva).72 Besides the sixfold classification of existence, the Buddhist texts mention several classes of beings. According to Buddhism the Supremely Enlightened Ones (samyak sambuddhas) are the highest beings. Then follow the following classes of beings in descending order : Pretvekabuddhas, Arhats, Devas, Brahmās, Gandharvas Garuļas, Nāgas, Yakşas, Kumbhāņdas, Asuras, Rākṣasás, Pretas and beings in hell.3
The Tattvārthasūtra in its second chapter gives a different kind of classification of jīvas. It says that three fundamental characteristics
70. Pañcāstikāyasāra, verse 30. 71. Tattvārthasāra, 234-237. For detailed discussion of the classification of ten
kinds of jīva, see H.S. Bhattacharya, Reals in Jaina Metaphysics, pp. 290-362. 72. Dhar masamgraha, section 57. 73. See H. Kern, Manual of Indian Buddhism, 59-60.