Jainism as a Faith

Author(s): Shreechand Rampuriya
Publisher: Z_Kesarimalji_Surana_Abhinandan_Granth_012044.pdf

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JAINISM AS A FAITH
ŚREE CHAND RĀMPURIA
Vice-Chancellor Jain Visva Bhārati
LADNU
THE WORLD AND ITS SIX CONSTITUENTS
The World a Reality The world we live in is not illusory. It is not a creation of imagination but a fact and it exists as a reality. The elements of which the world is composed are six in number.
The Six Constituents (1) Jiva (2) Dharma (3) Adharma
(4) Akasa (5) Kāla, and (6) Pudgala Jiva is the animate substance having consciousness as distinguished from the other five components which are called Ajivas or non-living substances. Jiva or Soul is a conscious substance and is characterised by Jñana or knowledge and Darjana or perception. Dharma is the substance which helps in the movements of Jivas and Pudgala, the unconscious matter. It does not move itself but helps the movements of moving objects much like the Railway Lines which are passive or inactive assistance to the moving Locomotive Engines. Adharma is just the opposite of Dharma and is necessary to help the stoppage of objects coming to a standstill. It is thus an indirect cause of fixation of objects. Akāśa is the container of all the substances. It allows. them room or space. Kāla is the substance which is the cause of change in things and creates the past, present or future. Pudgala is the substance which is called Matter by the modern science. It is perceivable by all the sense-organs as it possesses colour, taste, smell and touch as distinguished from the other four Ajīvas (inanimate substances) which are not at all perceivable by the senses.
Theory of Conservation The modern science recognises the matter as indestructible and adopts the theory that the weight of matter in its various forms remains the same as it ever was. This theory of constant weight or indestructibility of matter is preached of old by the Jainas not only in respect of perceptible matter but also in respect of the conscious Jiva and other four immaterial substances (which though not conscious are, nevertheless, immaterial being unperceivable by sense-organs).
The Trinity Every substance or element which constitutes the world is regarded as characterised by