Jain Journal 2004 07

Author(s): Jain Bhawan Publication
Publisher: Jain Bhawan Publication

Page 20

RAJJAN KUMAR: LIFE SCIENCEANDJAINISM
of liberation of the soul from sufferings and also for the realization of its full powers. These seven are rightly known as tattavas or the fundamentals or truths. These seven tattavas are termed as Jiva (living), Ajīva (non-livings), Āśrava (the influx of karmic matter towards the soul), Bandha (bondage), Samvara (the stoppage of Äśra a), Nirjarā (gradual removal of karmic matter), mokșa (liberation)
Out of the above seven fundamentals, there are only two tattvas viz. jīva and ajīva, which deal with the nature and condition of the unverse. The rest five tattvas are explained as the different status of combination and association of these two fundamentals i.e. jiva and ajīva. This interplay of soul (jiva) and matter (ajīva) is in the form of 1. influx of matter into soul, known as āśrva. 2. attachment or bondage of matter with soul (consider as bandha). 3. stoppage of influx (called as samvara). 4. separation of this bondage (taken as nirjarā). and 5. complete liberation of soul from the matter (granted as moksa).
Out of the above seven fundamentals there are only two basic substances i. e. jīva and ajīva . Jain Biologists differentiates the two opposite constituents on different grounds, but the most adopted facts is that it differentiates the living from the non-living by using the word jivatthikāya'(organism) to refer to any living things, either plant or animal'. Hence, it is relatively easy to see that a developed jīva like man, less developed jīva like insects, most developed plant like 'sāla tree, less developed plant like creeper etc. are living". Whereas pieces of matter (pudgala) viz. earth, stones etc. are not so. However, it is more difficult to decide such kinds of clearcut division about living and non-living for modern biological sciences.
Characteristics of Living and .Jainism
It is quite clear that in this universe there are two different types of fundamental entities-1. living and 2. non-living. The whole life in this universe is a result of combination and dissociation of both the
ntals. However, for the practical purposes it is worthwhile to differentiate between living and non-living. In modern biology the distinction between these two different entities has been drawn out on various levels. Jain-masters also care for the same. All living substances have, to a greater or lesser extent, the properties of specific