ISJS Jainism Study Notes E5 Vol 02

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

Page 369

Knowables(jñeya)
• •
Soul (jīva) Non-soul (ajīva)
Sin (pāpa) Influx (āsrava) Bondage (bandha)
Discardables (heya)
Acquirables (upādeya)
Virtue (punya) Stoppage (saṁvara) Annihilation (nirjarā) Liberation (mokşa)
• •
One remarkable feature of Bhagavati Sūtra is that it discusses different topics from different aspects, i.e. Anekānta or multidimensional approach to reality. When Somila asked whether he was one or many, Lord Mahāvīra replied that essentially as pure soul he was one, but characteristically multi-dimensional and many. 10 When Jayanti asked Lord Mahāvīra, whether a person who was sleeping or a person who was awake was better, Lord Mahāvīra replied that one who took to a sinful life, it is better that he is asleep and for a person who took to righteous life, it is good that he is awake. 11 Likewise Lord Mahāvīra has discussed the fundamentals of Jainism, i.e. the nine verities or realities and other topics in similar fashion so as to give a comprehensive picture of reality. Thus we find the rudiments of Anekāntavāda and Syādvāda as Vibhajyavāda in the āgamas.
Jiva Tattva or Soul We get a detailed discussion of the concept of the soul but is scattered in many chapters and sub-chapters. Bhagavati Sūtra 12/10 reveals that there are eight kinds of souls, i.e. ātmā.
1 Dravya ātmā
Soul characterized by consciousness
2 Kasāya ātmā
Soul characterized by passions
3 Yoga ātmā
Soul characterized by actions
19 Bhagavati Sūtra 18.10 11 Ibid 12.2
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STUDY NOTES version 5.0