ISJS Jainism Study Notes E5 Vol 02

Author(s): International School for Jain Studies
Publisher: International School for Jain Studies

Page 14

B.2.1.1
Reality (Sat) and Concept of Dravya (Substance) in Jaina Philosophy
Dr. Veer Sagar Jain & Dr. Shugan Chand Jain
The problem of change - Is changing real?
The problem of one and many - Is reality one or many?
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1.0 Reality: Preamble
Looking at the colorful and different forms of existences in the universe, it is natural to be inquisitive about the form and nature of reality i.e. their ultimate source of origin. Is it one entity with its manifold modifications or manifestations or the reality itself is manifold. Therefore all philosophers and philosophies start their enquiry about self and the universe around, with first understanding the reality (sat) and its nature. They soon came up with two related alternatives namely:
In this paper we shall discuss Jain views of reality with reference to western philosophers.
1.1Prominent Indian philosophers
Like the western philosophers, Indian philosophers also made similar statements, e.g.:
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Śamkara's Advaita-Vedanta presents the thesis of unchanging, eternal, and conscious comprising one reality "Brahma." Change, plurality and all worldly things are illusory. On the other hand Buddhists consider change as real. (Only Nagarjuna like Śamkara denies the reality of worldly things. Other schools of Buddhism do not deny worldly things)
Samkhya believes in duality of existence namely: Puruşa (sentient) and Prakrti (insentient)
Nyāya talks of multiplicity of existences like air, water, fire and earth as different forms of insentient besides soul being sentient.
Jain philosophers and spiritual leaders accept existence of all beings as real and reality itself being multiple, with broad grouping as sentient and insentient beings. Basic considerations about their views on reality are based on the following:
It accepts Reality comprising permanence, change, multiplicity and identity or similarity simultaneously. This is supported by our experience of always finding particularity and universality or generality simultaneously.
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