________________
A Hand Book of Jainology
the stream of those two causes has been flowing endlessly from times immemorial. This is called samsar.
30
The samsar has been going on from times immemorial. The truth of this doctrine can be understood by the examples of the father and the son; the tree and the seed and the hen and the egg. That egg also emerged from some hen. In this manner, one equal stream has been flowing on from times immemorial.
The Karma pudgals binding the soul inspire Kashayas and the jiva under the influence of Kashayas gathers Karmas. A new body and senses etc. arise only as a result of their mutual co-operation and reaction. In the emergence of these things, apart from Karma other pudgals also function as causes. It will be discussed later which those pudgals are and how that reaction takes place. But the main and the fundamental activity takes place on account of the reactions between the jivas and the pudgals. This point must be clearly and correctly understood. In the jiva and in the pudgals, new states and transformations keep taking place. This is called the working of the Universe.
(3) The Akash dravya (space) the jivas and the pudgals require space to exist. This question might have arisen in your mind. How can shunya (absolute nothingness) provide space to them. Some dravya is necessary for this. Dravya is the name given to that entity which does something and which undergoes a change of quality. One may have the desire to get a very useful almirah. But it has not been brought; why? There is no place to keep it in the house. In other words, there is only a little space there which can provide a place for it.
The Akash (space) carries out the task of giving room. possesses such qualities as oneness number and illimitable quantity and magnitude. It has such modified forms as Ghatakash (closed space) and Phatakash (open space). The akash possesses qualities and modifications; therefore, it is a dravya.
How big is space? Nobody has measured it and it does not possess any boundary or end. If it has a boundary or limit,
Jain Education International
It
For Private & Personal Use Only
www.jainelibrary.org
