________________
The Jaina world of Non-living
beings to think about good and bad, memory and meditation etc. It is, thus, mattergic and not in the form of space. 21. Q. The mind is different from soul. A. This is not correct. This point should be considered from polyviewstic approach like the senses. The senses are non-different from the soul as the spacepoints of soul themselves are transformed into senses due to destruction-cum-su'sidence of energy-obstructing and knowledgeobscuring karmas. The senses are also different from soul as it is not destroyed on the destruction of the senses. Similarly, the soul spacepoints transform into mind and there is non-difference between the two. And the soul is not destroyed at the destruction of mind. Hence, it is different from soul also. 22-23. Q. The mind is a permanent entity and, therefore, it cannot be destroyed. A. This is not correct. Here also, the scriptures indicate application of polyviewistic approach. The mattergies transformed into mind are destroyed as mind the next moment after completing their function of thinking about good and bad and memory etc. Thus, the mind is not permanent with respect to modes while it is permanent substantively. 24. Q. The Vaišeșikas point out that mind is an independent reality. It is atomic in nature and associated with each individual soul. It is said that the mind is the controller of order as the soul cannot have many simultaneous efforts and the all- sensory knowledge cannot occur simultaneously. A. This view is not correct. The atomic mind is accepted to function due to its association with each soul and sense. Now, one would like to ask whether the mind is associated wholly or partly with the soul and senses. If the association is taken as wholly, it is not possible as the soul and senses are different entities. The atomic mind can associate with only one of them at a time. Otherwise, there will be contradiction. If partial association is accepted, partly with the soul and partly with the senses, it will lead to spacepointism of the mind. This is undesirable as it is said to be atomic only.
165
Jain Education International
For Private & Personal Use Only
www.jainelibrary.org
