Jain Study Center NC Raleigh 1997 11 YJA Regional Convention

Author(s): Jain Study Center NC Raleigh
Publisher: USA Jain Study Center NC Raleigh

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Soul/Consciousness Matter Medium of motion Medium of rest Space Time
- Jiva (Living being) - Pudgala (Nonliving being) - Dharma (Nonliving being) - Adharma (Nonliving being) - Akasa (Nonliving being) - Kaal (Nonliving being)
Soul (Jiva):
Its essential characteristic is consciousness. This is the only knowing substance. It possesses perfect knowledge, perfect vision, perfect power, and perfect bliss. It also possesses the property of contraction and expansion like that of light. They are of innumerable numbers. Living being can not be created or can not be destroyed. The total number of living beings remains same in the entire universe at all the time.
There are two types of Souls (Living beings):
Free (Mukta) Soul
Free soul is defined as a pure consciousness, a soul that has completely exhausted all of its karma. It is a liberated soul. It is also known as Siddha. All siddhas are defined as Gods in Jainism. All Tirthankaras and other Keval-jnanis become siddhas at the end of their life (death).
Liberated soul has the following qualities:
- Does not possess a body - Has perfect knowledge, vision, power, and bliss. - Lives in Moksha, which is located on the top of Lokakas. - Never returns again into the cycle of birth, life, and death - Innumerable in numbers
Worldly (Samsari) Soul
Possesses a body (plants, hellish, animal, human, or angel) Wanders into the cycle of life and death Covered with karma particles Possesses limited knowledge, vision, power, and bliss Suffers from birth, death, pain, and pleasure Innumerable number of worldly souls Doer of all kinds of karmas (actions) Enjoyer of the fruits of the karmas Capable of becoming free from worldly life
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