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A Query on Bhavya and Abhavya.
To
To
The Editor, Jain Gazette, Madras.
Sir,
In my study of Jainism I have come across two terms "bhavya," and "abhavya." I have considered upto now that these two terms denote stages in the development of the soul. But in one or two articles in your Jain Gazette I read that there are jivas which are abhavya i.e., incapable of liberation. Hence arises the doubt.
Jainism teaches us that the world is-primarily composed of two kinds of subsiances : one is called "jiva" or the living substance and the other is called "ajiva" or nonliving substance. Further "jiva" is defined as upyogamaya, i.e., having an undifferentiated and differentiated cognition : while' ajiva' possesses no such quality. There is no third element which will fetter the qualities of the soul. As thus jiva and ajiva are entirely different substances it then naturally follows that the jiva or the living substance can be separated from matter and that there cannot be any living substance jiva which cannot be separated from the bondage of karma. The second verse of Dravyasangraha of Nemichandra Siddhanta Chakravarti in which the characteristics of 'jiva' are enumerated mentions that a jiva is Siddha and when siddha the motion of 'jiva 'is upward. (siddho so vissasoddhagai). Likewise the Ratnakarandah Shravakachar contains the following verse.
Desayami samichinam Dharmam Karmanibarhanam
Samsara dukhata salvanyo dharalyutlame sukhe. Now these two verses will not be quite correct in the case of
abhavya' Jivas. For since they cannot attain liberation under any circumstances, siddhatva and sudden upward motion (uissa
soddhagai) are not possible for them. Similarly Jainism which Shree Sudharmaswami Gyanbhandar-Umara, Surat
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