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FAITH KNOWLEDGE AND CONDUCT
7-THE CATEGORIES
The principal categories are four, namely, dravya (substance), kshetra (place), kāla (time) and bhāva (internal states). These admit of amplification as follows:
Dravya (substance) may be own substance or what is adhering to or is in association with one's own substance, that is, a foreign substance; and includes quality and form without which no substance can ever exist in nature.
Kshetra signifies place or locality, extent of space occupation (quantity), and position in space.
Kala is time, or modification of being, the outward state of existence, e.g., an object in motion, or one at rest.
Bhāva indicates internal states and feelings, how related to others, whether enjoying the esteem of others or not.
If we reduce the above to two categories only-namely, substance and quality-as Aristotle did at times, there will be the risk of confusion between such things as states and qualities, substance and space, and the like. And no useful purpose will be served by enlarging the list, as the four enumerated above will be found to cover all that may be said about a thing.
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