Jainism

Author(s): M R Gelra
Publisher: Createspace

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existing karmas are annihilated. The ultimate aim of the soul's pilgrimage is to achieve the pure conscious state where the inherent qualities of infinite knowledge and infinite freedom are availed.
There is another classification of Jiva/soul:
• One kind of Jiva: by virtue of consciousness
Two kinds of Jiva are: trasa - mobile (2-5 senses); sthavara - immobile (one sense).
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Three kinds of Jiva: From Veda (sex) point of view there are three divisions - purusa (male), stri (female) and napumsaka (dual/trans). All worldly beings will necessarily have one of Veda.
Four kinds of Jiva: From gati (type of birth) point of view, there are four divisions. Naraka (denizens of hell), Tiryanca (animal), Manusya (human), and Deva (denizens of heaven).
Five kinds of Jiva: Jiva are divided into five classes according to the sense organ point of view. Similarly there are six divisions - prthivikaya, apakaya, tejaskaya, vayukaya, vanaspatikaya, and traskaya.
From another point of view there are fourteen divisions and so on.
This way we can say that the science of Jiva in Jain philosophy is comprehensive. (iii) Important Postulates
1. The characteristic of soul or Jiva is consciousness or cognitive activity. Cognition may be sensuous and super sensuous experience.
2. Soul is non-material hence it is beyond sensory perception. One that has touch, taste, smell and colour is material and material can be sensed by sense organs. The attributes of matter are directly contrary to those of pure soul. Jains believe that the universe is eternal because of the existence of the two co-opposites Jiva and Ajiva. Only self experience, perception and inference, could comprehend soul. Therefore it is said that 'soul exists for those who believe in it.
3. Soul or aatma is the doer, and enjoyer. In doing so soul keeps its consciousness and transitory nature.
4. Soul attracts good and bad karmas by doing good and bad deeds.
5. Pure Soul is non-material but empirical soul has the body and karma attached to it.
6. The empirical souls have to bear the good and bad fruits of the karma.
7. Soul is an eternal, accomplished and independent substance. Souls are infinite in number in the universe.
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