Dravyasamgraha

Author(s): Nemichandra Acharya, Vijay K Jain
Publisher: Vikalp

Page 34

Verse 6
substance is associated with these two. Further it is of inseparable connection and permanent."
That, which distinguishes one substance from all others, is its distinctive quality. Only the presence of this quality makes it a substance. If such distinguishing characteristics were not present, it would lead to intermixture or confusion of substances. For instance, souls are distinguished from matter by the presence of qualities such as knowledge. Matter is distinguished from souls by the presence of form (colour) etc. Without such distinguishing characteristics, there can be no distinction between souls and matter. Therefore, from the general point of view, knowledge etc. are the qualities always associated with the soul, and form etc. are always associated with matter. Their modifications, which are separable from particular point of view, are modes.
Jain, S.A., Reality, p. 162.
The soul is an indivisible whole For practical purposes, we speak of the attributes of the soul, its right-belief, knowledge and conduct. But it is an indivisible unity. All attributes are implicit in its nature and merely manifest themselves in different aspects of the activity. Every individual substance is an inter-mixed, one inseparable group of an infinity of all-pervading attributes. The Soul is also such a group of infinite attributes, of which the most important are the sacred trinity of right-belief, right-knowledge and rightconduct. He who realizes this, does not lose himself in distinctions, but becomes absorbed in his own self and enjoys the nectar of his own eternal essence. For the not-knowing pupil, the wise teacher (Acārya) selects some of the special qualities, and describes the substance by them, so that the pupil may properly understand that substance as distinct from others.
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