Jaina World of Non Living

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

Page 82

7.
The static and dynamic aspects of reality or the reality and its modifications or attributes can not be taken as absolutely different from each other because they do not exist separately. They are always coexisting. Their separate existence can not be proved. An unproved entity has not been found to be existing like a barren's son, soft hairs of tortoise, sky-lotus and ass's horns etc. It is only the separately proved entities which are observed separately. The inherential relationship can also not prove their separate character as it means a partially self-same relationship which can not prove the absolute difference between reality and its modes. Otherwise, this will lead to the futility of modes.
8. The attributes and modes are found only in realities and not outside them. There are infinite attributes of each reality. One cannot describe them in full except the omniscient. However, one can detail them in two categories: (a) general attributes-Devsena gives ten of them, and (b) specific attributes-Devsena gives a list of sixteen. However, each reality has its own general and specific characteristic attributes. Modifications occur only in attributes.
9. The above definition can be illustrated by many common examples. Gold remains as gold despite its ornaments which may be changed into different forms. This leads one to define reality as having a property of identity-cum-difference in which there is a duration and
movement.
The Jaina world of Non-living
10. This definition of reality in terms of permanence through change is supported by the scientists in terms of their 'law of conservation of mass and energy' as it is called today. The chemistry and physics of today are based on this law. It is held that whenever transformations take place, the mass or energy involved re-appear in different forms maintaining their total quantity intact. This scientific law is a quantitative confirmation of the philosophers' qualitative law.
The earlier aphorism indicates only four realities under the nonliving group. The next aphorism points out a specific reality too to be included in the list :
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