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Epistemology of Jainas It is a changeable yet everlasting Reality
Reality according to Jainism, as we have already stated, consists of three factors; origination, decay and permanence. This principle holds good in the case of soul also. Every soul undergoes various changes. It moves from one place to another place, takes different shapes and forms and passes through successive lives. Yet, does not lose its permanence.
In the case of soul, permanence means both with reference to substance as well as person. The soul is an intelligent substance and cannot become non-intelligent. At the same time no soul loses its individuality by merging into or com. bining with the other souls. According to the Vedānta jyvätmans have a conditional existence. When the condition is removed they merge into the great soul of Brahman. The Jainas do not favour this view.
Both, Jiva (soul) and pudgala (matter) are many in number; while other substances are without plurality. Permanence with reference to substance is common to all of them. No substance loses its nature and transforms into the other. The question of individual permanence is concerned with jiva and pudgala only. Jįva is an ultimate unit. It may have smaller or bigger size according to the physical body; but, it does nct depend upon any external help for expansion or diminution. Neither it combines with other souls for expansion nor cuts away some. thing from its own person for diminution. The number of prades is the units of space) remains the same in both conditions But, this is not the case with pudgala, which has atom as the smallest individual unit. The bigger units of physical structure are not conposed merely by that individual ato n. It is assisted by other atoms to compose a bigger structure. The number of atoms increases with the increase of dimension. The diametrical expansion of the soul without additional equipment is the point which is attacked by the non-Jaina systems. The only explanation that the Jainas give, is that the soul is immaterial, and the principle of meterial objects cannot be applied to immaterial things.
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