Book Title: ISJS Jainism Study Notes E5 Vol 04
Author(s): International School for Jain Studies
Publisher: International School for Jain Studies
View full book text
________________
are par-draya. This classification is essential to understand and contemplate on the self for spiritual purification.
4. Astik ya (many space points) and An-astik ya (one space point only): Except time, all other substance types are with many space points and hence are classified as astik ya while time is with one space point only and not an astik ya. K la is also called as without any space point. Thus, except time, all other substance types are clubbed together and called pa c stik ya. A Kunda Kunda's famous text Pa c stik ya describes these five substances only.
Concrete Sentient Active Astik ya
Name
1. Jva
Nature
Knowledge, bliss
2. Pudgala Fusion
fission
3. Dharma Supports
motion
4. Adharma Supports rest
5. k a
6. K la
Number
infinite
& infinite
one
one
Provides space one Supports change
Space points
innumerable No
Page 231 of 556
do
do
do
do
innumerable one
Yes
No
No
No
No
Yes
No
No
No
No
No
Yes
Ao a pavisat dit og sama ama assa,
Mela vi ya other, icca sagasabbh va a vija ha ti 21
Yes
No
222
STUDY NOTES version 4.0
Yes
Yes
It is important to note that as per Jain philosophy, the total number of substances in this cosmos do not change i.e. no new substance is created and no existing substance gets destroyed; they just change form. Hence all substances are eternal i.e. they were existent in the past, exist now and will continue to exist forever. Also it is true that they keep on transforming continuously. No substance stays in the same state even for a minute faction of a second i.e. transformation is the nature of all substances.
Yes
It is also to be noted that transformation of any particular substance is within certain limits. No substance will ever leave its nature i.e. sentient can never become insentient and vice versa. Similarly J va can never become matter and matter can never become j va. Similarly we can surmise for other substance types also.19 Similarly each substance is the material cause of its own transformation; no other substance can be so. Other substances can have a relationship like cause and effect only i.e. other substances can be the efficient cause of transformation in the main substance.20
Yes
Yes
No
Another important feature of substances in Jain philosophy is that each substance is eternally independent and complete in itself. No substance has origination from ab-initio i.e. totally new and no substance gets totally destroyed. Similarly no substance is dependent on other substances. No substance does anything for any other substance and neither obstructs in the functioning of other substances. From practical point of viewpoint, however it is said that all substances are inter related but from absolute viewpoint no substance is the doer of anything for any other substance. Every substance stays in its nature and they do not enter or interfere in the nature of other substances. Following verse from Kunda Kunda is worth mentioning here in this context.
These substances do meet each other, interact with each, support other's activities; but they never leave their nature or adopt the nature of other substances. Like Kunda Kunda, other c ryas have also said similarly; notably c ryas Vra Sena and K rtikeya.
