Book Title: ISJS Jainism Study Notes E5 Vol 02
Author(s): International School for Jain Studies
Publisher: International School for Jain Studies
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A. Jiva or living beings An entity with consciousness and its manifestation as knowledge and intuition etc are found is termed as living being. From absolute viewpoint, living beings do not posses attributes like taste, touch, odour or colour and hence are non-concrete. While existing in the cosmos as empirical living being, it lives/exists due to its capabilities of breathe, sense organs, life span and overall energy while as pure soul, it exists at the summit of the cosmos and exists/ lives forever with its attributes of knowledge, intuition and bliss.
The nine special characteristics of living beings (jīva) are briefly discussed below:10
i. Jivatva or ability to live An entity which lives, as per transcendental viewpoint with the energy and capability of its consciousness and as per practical viewpoint with its four vitalities namely: capabilities of breathe, lifespan, sensual organs (enabling touch, taste, smell, hear, form) and its energy (mind, body, speech), is called to have jīvatva or is called jīva.
ii. Upayogamaya or able to manifest Here upayoga means primarily manifestation of consciousness into intuition (darśanopayoga) and knowledge (jñānopayoga). There are further sub divisions of these two manifestations of consciousness that we do not discuss at this stage. This is based on the premise that this manifestation of consciousness is the primary or main characteristic of jīva in Jain philosophy which is indicated as functional consciousness is the differentia of the living beings.11
iii. Amūrtika - non-concrete Jīva by its nature is non-concrete and attributes like touch, taste, colour and odour are not associated with it.
iv. Kartā or Doer/ Agent From absolute viewpoint, it is the doer of its nature and from practical viewpoint it is the doer of the matter karmas.
19 jīvo uvaogamao amuttikattā sadeha parimāno; bhotta samsārattho siddo so vissasodthagai./ Acārya Nemicandra Siddhāntadeva's text Dravyasamgraha, verse 2 "Upayogolaksanam, Tattvärtha-sútra, 11.8
STUDY NOTES version 5.0
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