ISJS Jainism Study Notes E5 Vol 04

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

Page 239

varga ) and breathe material (w socch sa varga s). Gross bodies, protean bodies and conveyance bodies are three types of matter endowed with associability. All varga s are respectively used by j va to have k rma, tejus (electric), physical and protean/celestial (for hellish and heaven beings) bodies, h raka or knowledge body for ascetics of higher order and remaining varga s for mind, speech, body and breathe. Parm u is the smallest and indivisible part of aggregate. It cannot be destroyed even by the sharpest and most lethal arm / fire or water. It is without space points, besides its own one space point. It is slightly concrete and slightly non concrete. Parm u, which is the basic part of matter has special characteristics and is defined as the smallest indivisible part of matter. It is like a dimensionless and mass-less geometric point that has existence but almost no size and weight. It travels in a straight line if unobstructed otherwise it can travel in any direction including in waveform but under the influence of other entities. (Ref scientists Max Plank, Neil Bohr etc and others who proved this to be so). Parmu in normal state occupies one space point but in special conditions, one space point can have almost infinite parm us in it. Scientists have proved that specific gravity of matter in nebulae is approx 10 while some stars are said to be composed of matter which is 2000 times denser than gold. Parm u can have one each color, smell, taste and two touch (hot or cold and hard or soft) qualities. As per Einstein's theory of relativity, e = mc2, matter can be converted into energy. So a parm can have almost infinite speed as parm u which is almost mass-less and can travel 14 rajjus (i.e. the whole universe) or 1.4 * (10) miles per samaya at its fastest speed while its normal speed is one space point (prade a) in one samaya (smallest unit of measurement of time). Bonding of parm us is only due to the dry (arid) and cohesive (smooth) attributes present in different proportions. This is similar to positive and negative charges of protons and electrons. The remaining five substance types are non-concrete and cannot be cognized by our sense organs directly. Word, Bondage, subtle, gross, darkness, shadow, light, heat etc. are the modes of matter
Now we shall discuss the four supportive substances i.e. by themselves these substances do not act but they support the activities of both active substance types namely j va and pudgala.
C. Dharma or Principle of motion & Adharma or principle of rest Here the terms dharma and adharma do not mean the contemporary meaning of religion and non religion. Jain philosophy says that like living beings and non-living beings, there are two more entities known as dharma or principle of motion and adharma or principle of rest. Both are real and existent and hence have all the attributes associated with dravya. Because they are non-concrete, they cannot be cognized directly by sense organs. Even the scientists have proved the existence of these entities.
Gatisthityupagrahau dharm dharmayorupak rah. (TS/V/17)
Dharma in Jainism has been defined as a substance which it self does not move but helps the moving living beings and matters in their movement, just as water of river assists to movement of moving fishes. The fish swims by its own force but the water is essential for swimming. Principle of motion supports the motion of those objects (living beings and matter), which are moving e.g. water supports the movement of fish or the rail-lines support the movement of trains. It is one in number and omnipresent throughout the cosmos.
Adharma is the principal of rest and pervades the whole universe. This is the auxiliary cause of rest to the soul and matter. Adharma has been defined as a cause of helping the matter and souls which are at rest, in taking rest just as earth, which is at rest, helps those who want to stay and take rest. It is a substance, which supports the resting entities (living beings and matter), e.g. the shade of a tree supports a tired traveler's intention to rest. It is like force of friction in modern science. It is also one in number and omnipresent throughout the cosmos.
The medium of motion and rest never lose their special characteristics of facilitating movement and rest etc., and their common characteristics of existence etc., they are eternal, fixed in number and
Page 229 of 556
STUDY NOTES version 4.0