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The Jaina world of Non-living
Q. How this could be explained? 4. A. The dual nature of transformations in all the realities could be proved on the basis of two standpoints of substantivity and modality. However, canons postulate that the four imperceptible realities like medium of motion and rest, space and time do have beginningless as well as beginningful transformations while the realities of the living and mattergy have sometimes perceptible transformations too. Supplementary Notes 1. The commentary deals with the following points (a) The meaning of the terms in the aphorism 5.42. (b) The non-vibrational or non-translational transformation in or of an entity has been termed as 'mode' or 'modification'. (c) The modifications may be associated with the reality or its attributes. (d) The modes have two varieties - beginningful and beginningless. The self-caused or natural modifications of material or non-material realities are beginningless. They may be beginngful also if caused due to alien causes like the presence of mattergy or karmas. (e) The Svetāmbara version postulating specific types of modifications has been refuted on the basis of substantive and modal standpointal approach. (f) The modifications in non-material realities are learnt through scriptures while those of the worldly living and mattergy may be directly observable along with canonical statements. 2. The TSB indicates that the worldly living has modifications due to twelve types of activities- eight types of right and wrong knowledges (5, 3), and four types of conations. They may be of both types. 3. This aphorism 5.42 deals with the definiton of modifications. They have been classified in more than one way. One form is refered by Devasena. Accordingly, there are two types of modifications : (i) indistinct and (ii) distinct. Every reality undergoes indistinct modifications which are fine, momentary and inexpressible. In contrast, the distinct modes are gross, observable, expressible and lasting. It is said that indistinct modes are there in all the realities while distinct modes are observable in mattergic and worldly living entities.
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