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An Epitome of Jainism
and knows all objects. A body without soul is incapable of perceiving or knowing anything. Material objects such as a pen, table or chair cannot feel or know anything. They are unconscious or inanimate substances.
I. The soul. It is the only conscious substance. Looked at from the real point of view even a mundane soul is pure, peaceful, all-knowing and all-blissful. It is potentially so. From the practical point of view such a soul experiences various kinds of pain and pleasure in different conditions of life.
II. The Non-soul. It comprises the other five real and independent substances, which, taken together with the soul, make up the six substances (Dravyas):
(1) Pudgala, "Matter" is the most prominent, and plays a very important part in the amphitheatre of the universe. The special attributes of mattersubstance (pudgala) are touch, taste, smell, and colour. It exists either in the form of atoms or of molecules. Only gross molecules are cognizable by the senses; fine, electric and karmic molecules which compose the clectric and the kârmic bodies of all mundane souls are not cognizable by the senses.
(2) Dharma, "Medium of motion" is a single, immaterial substance, pervading throughout the whole of the universe. It is essentially an auxiliary cause of motion for soul and matter.
(3) Adharma, "Medium of rest" is also a single immaterial substance, pervading throughout the whole universe. It is also an essentially auxiliary cause of rest for soul and matter.
(4) Akâśa, "Space" is a single infinite immaterial substance. Its function is to give place to all substances.
(5) Kâla, "Time" is an immaterial substance. It is an auxiliary cause of bringing about modifications in all substances.
III & IV. Inflow (Âśrava) and Bondage (Bandha).
Every mundance soul has a kármic body, formed of karmic molecules. The universe is full of karmic molecules, Inflow of these molecules towards the soul, caused by its own vibratory activities, through mind, speech, and body, is called Airava. When these molecules are so attracted towards the soul, they are assimilated in the existing karmic body. The causes of assimilation or bondage are the soul's vibratory activities and passions. This process is known as Bandha (bondage). The processes of Inflow and Bondage of karmic matter go on simultaneously. The main auxiliary causes of both of them are:
(a) Wrong belief (Mithyâtva).
(b) Vowlessness (Avirati)
(c) Passions (Kaşaya).
(d) Soul's vibratory activities (Yoga).
V. Samvara. Checking of Inflow and Bondage of Karmic molecules, is called Samvara (Stoppage).
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