Jainism Not an Atheisam

Author(s): Herbert Warren
Publisher: Herbert Warren

Page 18

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So the use of studying the “ six dravyas " is that we may have a rational and solid foundation for rules of conduct so produce happiness which is the aim of life.
With regard to substance, the universe is the totality of realities. We classify such different things as ink, pens, and blottering paper, under one heading and call them "stationery" and again worm, tree, bird, angel, fish, man, God, are classified as living beings. Then again, such-different things as stationery and living beings may be classified as substance. Substance is the one class in which all real things may be included, such as those just named, or anyzhing else, a lump of clay, a brass band an ocean or a universe.
Substance then, is not something different from what we are all acquainted with; there is no such thing as mere substance which is not a particular stuff or thing, any more than stationery is mere stationery or living beings are mere living beings, stationery must be either ink, or blotting paper, or something particular, and living beings must be either men, or trees, or spirits, or some particular living being or beings; so too, substance must be some particular stuff or thing or being, clay, fish, fruit, criminals, armies, circuses, solar systems, steam, or a universe, or something.
We want a defination of substance, what is it? To define it, a characteristic must be mentioned which is true of every real thing or being, so that nothing real shall be left out; and the quality, or characteristic, must be one which is not found in any unreal thing, so that nothing unreal shall be included.
Substance is that in which the differences of time, space, and modifications inhere together. This will apply to anything real; teacups for instance, in spite of all the lierences of time that the clay is in the form of a teacup,