ISJS Jainism Study Notes E5 Vol 02

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

Page 371

INTERNATION
SCHOOL
OF
SELF STUDY IS THE
SUPREME AUSTERITY
STUDIES
Ajiva Tattva or Non-Soul
The non-living things are of two types, without form and with form. The medium of motion and rest, space and time are formless whereas matter is with form. Those without form are designated as non-concrete or non physical (amurta or arūpī) and those with form are called physical or concrete (murta or rūpī). One can observe the parallel remarks made by the Jaina philosophers and Albert Einstein regarding the principle of motion, [for more details please refer Source Book in Jaina Philosophy, pg 126,127 and Bhagavati Sūtra 18.7/7.10]. But for the two mediums of motion and rest all things would either be at rest or in motion forever. Bhagavati Sūtra reveals that all that is steady and at rest are due to the above mediums of motion and rest. Where these two mediums operate, it is termed as cosmos /universe (loka) and where they do not is called as void (Aloka) or just space. Likewise chapter 13.4 reveals that Space or ākāśa is the one that accommodates all things. It is all pervading, formless having infinite space points.
Chapter 25.4 records the discussion on time as an independent substance. Bhagavati Sūtra has given minutest details of substance (smallest indivisible part of matter) and matter, which are very scientific.
Karma Theory
Besides the above non-living substances, Bhagavati Sūtra records exhaustive details regarding the karma theory. These karmas are of two types psychic and substantial. The former is the cause for the latter. The first conditions the soul spiritually, the latter physically. Just as milk and water and iron and fire are melted together, the bounded souls and karmas are intermingled. In Bhagavati Sūtra 1.2, Lord Mahāvīra clearly states that each one experiences and enjoys the fruit of karma done by himself and cannot do so of others or for others.
Chapters 6.9 and 8.1 elaborate the eight-fold karma theory, and based on these and other chapters, we come across one hundred thousand slokas on Karma theory in the Śvetāmbara tradition and two hundred slokas on the same in the Digambara tradition.12 Bhagavati Sūtra heralds and warns that without experiencing the fruit of one's karmas one cannot attain liberation. The soul becomes burdened by the 18 kinds of sins and is
12 Introduction to Bhagavati Sūtra pg 93
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STUDY NOTES version 5.0