Jaina World of Non Living

Author(s): N L Jain
Publisher: Parshwanath Vidyapith

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The Jaina world of Non-living
that the non-living is that which is not living, it will have a nonexistential character. This meaning is not correct. The non-existence means existence of other modes or characteristics. If one says, 'it is not horse', it does not mean non-existence of horse, but it means an animal of different kind, though it may have similar stomach-shape and singlehoof. It is used to mean a donkey or an ass. Similarly, non-living does not mean non-existence of living but existence of modes or entities different from the living. It means a body which has characteristics of nonconsciousness etc. Q. One will not know this meaning as there is no similarity in characteristics of the living and non-living like that in the term 'not-horse' as above. A. This is not correct. The similarity is observed with respect to the properties of existence, substantivity etc.
The meaning of 'absence of existence' for 'non-existence' can not be taken as correct. In fact, the term means existence in other forms which has a positive meaning. 7. The aphorism utilises the term 'body' as involving a simily. This term has multiple or dual meaning here. The body is like a group or mass of space points.
What is the simily here?
It is like this. As the normal body is formed by the association of many mattergic particles due to fruition of the physique-making karma of gross etc. bodies, similarly, the realities of medium of rest or motion etc. have body due to accumulation of their infinitely inherent space points or particles. 8. The term 'body' has been taken here in the aphorism to denote the maniness of the constituents in terms of space points. These space points are primarily or secondarily non-existing but they are intelluctually thought of for the benefit of the common laity in terms of points accommodating the physical atoms. These space points are the constituents of bodies. The term 'body' indicates maniness of space points in it.
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