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A Hand Book of Jainology
Question: Why is it that the body does not have the attributes of consciousness etc.
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Answer: The reason is that the body is inert. Therefore, as in the case of inert things like clay, stones, wood etc., the body also has such attributes as colour, smell, taste, touch etc., but it does not possess the attributes of consciousness, knowledge, happiness etc. The following are the reasons for this:
(1) Knowledge, happiness, sorrow etc. appear in the form of sensations or cerebral concepts; so, they are different from colour, smell etc., and are not the attributes of the inert body.
(2) These attributes are not at all present in the dead body.
(3) The attributes of consciousness etc., are not present in the components of the body like clay, water etc., so the body does not possess those qualities. The quality of intoxication is partially present in the components of alcohol such as jaggery, flour etc., so the liquor brewed out of them possesses the quality of intoxication.
(4) The attributes of consciousness, happiness, sorrow etc., are not present in clay (i.e. food, water etc.). How can those qualities be present in the body which is made up of those substances? So, we may say that the quality of consciousness present in the body is an attribute of the Chetandravya. Ash does not possess the qualities of wetness, coolness and greasiness, but slimy ash has these qualities so it is to be accepted that there is water mixed in the ashes; and that they are the qualities of water. The conscious soul is present in the body; the qualities of knowledge etc. belong to the soul. That is why when the soul leaves the body, those qualities are not seen in the body.
Questions:
(1) What is power ?
(2) Why is it that the body does not possess the qualities of consciousness, knowledege etc.?
(3) Why cannot the soul be regarded as made up of physical substances?
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