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WHAT IS THIS UNIVERSE ?
What is this Universe ? The universe comprises conscious and inert substances. Pudgals or matter; Dharmastikai or the medium of motion; Adharmastikai or the medium of rest; Akash; or space and Kal or time are the various inert substances. These five Dravyas or substances are described in the subsequent chapters. Question : Are there no substances like electricity which differ from these five ? Answer : Yes, there are. But this substance is not a separate one. Even electricity is a modified form of these Pudgals or a quality of these Pudgals. Power, quality and state require some basis just as light or a gem may be the source for radiance. This radiance is made up of Dravya or substance. Therefore, there is no independent substance called power or energy as different from Dravya. Question : Then, is it not possible to treat consciousness also as a power of the inert body? The reason is that consciousness is not visible as a separate entity distinguishable from inert substances. From this point of view, the whole universe is made up of merely inert substances. How can we treat consciousness as an independant and separate Dravya ? Answer : The Chaitanya or the power of consciousness is only a special power of the substance of consciousness, an independent substance. Question : If that is so, why is not the Chetandravya or con. sciousness visible and tangible like the body? Answer : The Chetandravya does not possess the attributes of colour, tangible form etc. Therefore, it cannot be perceived by our senses like the eyes, the skin etc. Yes, the Chetandravya is present in the body; and the body is visible. As a result of this, the qualities of the Chetandravya such as consciousness, knowledge, attachments, desires, joy and sorrow seem to be present in the body. These are not really the attributes of the body, but they are the attributes of the Chetandravya or the soul that pervades the body.
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