________________
The Jaina world of Non-living
A. This could not be correct. If it is assumed to be continuously existing in different time instants, the concept of momentariness is lost. It is momentary, it cannot serve as support. 33. Q. The Sānkhyas postulate that mind is not mattergic as it is the modification of primordial element 'Praksti'. It undergoes modifications through intellect, ego etc. Mind is one of its specific modifications. A. The Prakrti is non-conscious and its modifications will also, therefore, be non-conscious. How an unconscious entity like earthen pot can have thinking or memorising capacity ?
Moreover, mind is the immediate cause of the activity of thinking etc. Who will be the subject of this activity? Prakrti or Purusa? The Puruşa is devoid of qualities. He cannot have activities like thinking and memory etc. which are modifications of the quality of essence or goodness (Sattva). Similarly, Prakrti can also not be the subject of these activities as it is non-conscious. Nothing non-conscious has been observed to possess thinking etc. activities in the world uptill now. 34. Further, we know that normally Prakrti consists of three qualities in the state of equilibrium. Different modifications appear in the form of intellect, ego etc. due to disturbance in this equilibrium state. Now, it is to be learnt whether these modifications are different from Prakrti or nondifferent from it. In the first alternative, there will be loss of the absolutist concept of non-difference between the cause and effect. If the second alternative is accepted, there will be Praksti only and no modifications will be perceptible. Thus, there will be no mind. 35-36. The vitality or prāņa is defined as the inhalation of air by the soul through body visceras like heart, lungs etc. due to destruction-cumsubsidence of energy-obstructing and knowledge-obscuring karma and fruition of physique-making karma of limbs and sublimbs. The exhalation of air due to the same causes is known as breathing out (Apāna). These two processes are also helpful to the soul as they cause the soul to live in the embodied form. 37. The processes of inhalation and exhalation together with speech and mind are mattergic as they show resistance etc. The mind is seen to be obstructed in its functions due to sound of thunderbolts and causes of
169
Jain Education International
For Private & Personal Use Only
www.jainelibrary.org
