Book Title: Enlightened Vision of the Self
Author(s): Akalankadev, Devendra K Goyal
Publisher: Radiant Publishers New Delhi

View full book text
Previous | Next

Page 102
________________ Appendix 1 The Concept of Dravya (Substance): Continuity and Change Jagdish Prasad Jain "Sadhak” The English translation of the word "drazza” is “substance”. Substance is suggestive of something unchanging behind the changes and yet it is characterized by both continuity and change. The substance is endowed with attributes or qualities, which are permanent or unchanging and always reside in the substance, and accompanied by change or modifications. A quality is (actually) the distinguishing character of one substance from another, while the modifications of such qualities are called modes (paryaya). The modes too reside, though not always, in a substance; they are subject to origination and destruction and are temporary. “The object [of knowledge) indeed, consists of substance, the substances are said to have their essence in qualities. And through these are the modifications."1 The very term “drarza" signifies drazatua, i.e. “that which by nature, flows towards its modes”. Substance is defined as follows: “That which, whilst it does not forsake its innate nature, is connected with [characterized by] origination, annihilation and stability [continuity or permanence) and which possesses qualities and modifications.”? In other words, apart from preserving its innate nature (sunbhara or suarupa), which is Jain Education International For Private & Personal Use Only www.jainelibrary.org

Loading...

Page Navigation
1 ... 100 101 102 103 104 105 106 107 108 109 110 111 112 113 114 115 116 117 118 119 120 121 122 123 124 125 126 127 128 129 130 131 132