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JAINA PHILOSOPHY: AN INTRODUCTION
The latter view can be explained in a different manner also. A smooth elementary particle combines with another similar particle differing in energy-level by two units. A rough elementary particle combines with another rough elementary particle differing again in energy-level by two units. A smooth particle can also unite with a rough particle and vice versa. Particles at the lowest energy-level do not unite. The union of the various particles of different energy-levels may form an odd or an even series (as 3,5,7,9,11 etc. or 2,4,6,8,10 etc).'
The result of union is that an elementary particle or a molecule in the process of association with a higher degree of smoothness or roughness absorbs the one with a lower degree into itself. In other words, 'in the molecules of numerable, innumerable and infinite atoms, the atoms with greater degrees of smoothness or roughness when uniting, alter the atoms of lesser degree to their own kind." The union between dissimilar particles of equal degrees of smoothness and roughness produces a neutral effect.
Sub-Classes of Matter:
Broadly, matter is divided into two classes: atoms and molecules. Matter is divided into six classes also.3 These classes are not different from atoms and molecules. They are, in other words, their sub-divisions :
1. Solids
Earth, stone and the like are the solid forms of matter. This class is called sthula-sthüla.
2. Liquids-Butter, water, oil, milk and the like are the liquid forms of matter. They are known as sthūla.
3. Energy-It manifests itself in the forms of heat, light, electricity and the like. It is called sthūla-sūkṣma.
4. Gases-Air etc. are the forms of gases. This class is known as sūkṣma-sthula.
1. Gommaṭa-sāra : Jīva-kāṇḍa, 615.
2. Gommaṭa-sāra : Jīva-kāṇḍa, 619. 3. Niyama-sära, 21.
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