First Steps to Jainism Part 1

Author(s): Sancheti Asso Lal, Manakmal Bhandari
Publisher: Sancheti Trust Jodhpur

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8 First Steps to Jainism
was created at any time nor will it be destroyed, there being no origin in the past nor any end in the future. Since the universe was never created, the questions of creation or a creator do not arise.
4. This resolves the numerous questions that arise when the concept of a supreme creator of the universe is advocated, e.g., who created the creator? Again since there is no process of creation there is no need to delve into the justification for the creation of universe or the moment of its coming into existence. The universe is according to Jain thought, a self evident and selfexistent phenomena not needing any vindication. The concept is at once so simple yet so sublime that initially it comes as a shock and there is resistance against easy acceptance. However, more one thinks and contemplates on these lines the concept is not onl s fying to the intellect but also to hear and the soul.
5. The universe possesses according to the Jain thwught, the quality of timelessness. It goes back in the past to enternity and in future also it has got infinite time before it. From another point of view it can be said that the universe has before it almost as much amount of time (in future) as it has already passed through (in the past).
6. An elucidation of the work infinite can bear mention. The quantum denoted by infinite is such that even if infinite quantity were taken out of it what will remain behind will yet be infinite. No wonder this word is also used to connote God or the Absolute being.
7. We have seen that the universe according to Jain belief is an infinite entity so far as the time dimension is concerned. However so far as the space dimension is concerned the universe though colossal in size is not infinite. It is a finite mass of different (six) constituents, which have been having their interplay, but restricted, to the finite area of the universe, since times immemorial. However this huge colossus (the universe) is enclosed or contained in space which is infinite. There is symbiotic relationship between infinite space and the finite universe, the former completely surrounding and also pervading through the universe as we shall see presently. In passing, it may be mentioned that even the infinite space which