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Essentials of Jaina Philosophy
15
Time (Kāla) Time is experienced by all. A new thing becomes old, an old one decays and a decayed one is at last destroyed. A boy grows into a young man, a young man becomes old and an old man at last dies. A future event becomes present and a present one becomes past. All this is the result of time substance. Ever new forms, different transformations and varied changes are due to time. Time substance is posited to account for the incessant minute imperceptible changes as well as perceptible gross changes. Without it these changes would not take place as it is their auxiliary or assisting cause. Though other substances are by nature capable of undergoing changes, some auxiliary or general cause like time substance should be posited to help them undergo changes.
Space-Point (Pradeśa) Medium of motion, medium of rest, space and matter – these four insentient substances and one sentient substance soul are possessed of many space-points. A space-point means the most subtle (that is, indivisible ultimate) unit. All understand that the ultimate indivisible units of physical objects like a pot, a piece of cloth, etc. are atoms. And these atoms are called space-points so long as they are integrated into the whole (avayavi). But when they are disintegrated from it and are free, they are called atoms. In other words, when atoms are in a free state, they are called atom's (paramāņu); but when they are in an integrated state, they are called space-points (pradeśa). The space-points of the above-mentioned four non-physical substances are of a special type. They are mutually absolutely inseparable and form a perfect unity. They are never disintegrated or separated from their substances as those of a physical object like a pot are. They are identical with their substance; they together form an impartite unity. The four substances under consideration which have space-points of this type are eternal.
Substances of the Nature of a Collection of Space-points, i.e., Extended Substances (Astikāya) A soul, medium of motion and medium of rest possess innumerable space-points, each. Space has infinite space-points. Space confined to the universe has innumerable space-points, while space which is there in the region-beyond-universe has infinite space-points. A physical object may
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