First Steps to Jainism Part 1

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

Page 25

vegetables and even in earth, water, fire and air. These have sense of touch only.
The Universe-Six Substances 11
The second category of the souls is of those which have two senses, i.e., sense of touch and sense of taste. They are found in elementary forms of life, which show movement, like bacteria, shells, etc.
The third category consists of souls inhabiting bodies having three senses i.e. sense of touch, sense of taste and sense of smell e.g. lice.
The fourth category encompasses souls living in bodies having four senses, i.e., sense of touch, taste, smell and sight, e.g., flies, bees, etc.
Lastly, there are souls inhabiting bodies with five senses like human beings and animals that have all the senses, i.e., sense of touch, taste, smell, sight and hearing. As mentioned earlier the soul or animate being does not end with apparent death of the body it occupies, but changes the bodies like changing of clothes. Thus Jainism exposes the hollowness of death and firmly believes in transmigration of soul which has been continuing since hoary past and will continue till it achieves liberation or perfecthood by shedding all the bondage. The reason for this transmigration of soul is its association with matter which overpowers the inherent qualities of the soul (by assuming microscopic forms like waves which are known as Karmas). Again this association of the soul and the karma is beginningless so much so that under the influence of karma the soul has forgotten its real powers. Subject of this struggle between the souls and the karma matter will be dealt with separately but suffice it to say that this interaction is the cause of worldly existence which has been continuing without any beginning and which will so continue without any end.
(ii) Matter-(Pudgal)-The second important element of the universe is matter or the Pudgalstikaya. Non-living, inanimate and non-conscious matter has form and can be touched, tasted, seen and smelled. Actually this is the only element with form out of the six substances constituting the universe. The smallest particle of matter is described in Jain philosophy to be so fine that we have to adopt
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