ISJS Jainism Study Notes E5 Vol 02

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

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cosmos, which is not always accompanied with attributes and modes. Knowledge, intuition, happiness etc are the attributes of living beings while mind-based knowledge, verbal testimony etc are the modes of knowledge. Similarly form, taste, odour and touch are the attributes of matter (pudgala) and black / white /yellow etc are the modes of attribute colour.
Thus we conclude that dravya is what is real and real is with origination-destruction and permanence or with attributes and modes.
Jain texts use the word dravya primarily to represent substance. However we also find the terms like object /entity (artha), thing (padārtha), object of knowledge (jñeya or prameya) etc. as synonyms of dravya. All these synonyms and other terms used are with the object of acquiring knowledge about them. Dravya is also called existent (vastu).
2.2 Categories of substance Dravya' There are infinite substances in this cosmos which can all be classified in six categories namely:
Jiva:
Living being
Pudgala:
Matter
Dharma:
Principle of motion
Adharma:
Principle of rest
Ākāśa:
Space
Kāla:
Time
Jain philosophy talks of duality of existence / reality i.e. it propagates Duopoly of existence of living and non-living beings (all the five non living being categories are grouped in this category). Jains say that both living beings as well as non-living beings are existent and hence eternal truth and not imaginary or pseudo-reality. Similarly knowledge and object of knowledge, eternal and temporary, soul and supreme soul etc are all existent and real.
We shall briefly discuss each of these now. Jain literature however discuss at length the nature of living beings and matter as these are primary substance types which are helpful in following the path of spiritual purification and attaining emancipation.
Aryate gamyate parichidyate vā eti arthah 'i.e. the entity cognized is the object. Vasanti gunah yasmin tat vastu' or an entity in which attributes exist is called substance'
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