Jainism by Vividus

Author(s): Ramnik V Shah
Publisher: Ramnik V Shah Canada

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all Jivas stated above have all other properties of living organisms such as assimilation, growth, decay and reproduction.
There is another classification of Jivas according to their state of existence which is called "Gati." Such "Gatis" are four in number. The first is "Deva-gati"-beings in the divine state of existence; the second is "Manushya gati' ;-beings in the human state of existence; the third is "Tiryancha-gati"-beings in the lower animal and plant state of existence and the last and the fourth is "Narka-gati"-beings in the denizens-of-hell state of existence. These four beings constitute that part of Jiva reality of the universe viz the "Samsara" which is the result of Karmic bondage according to which a particular Jiva is born in any-one of the "gatis." As stated in the opening sentence of this chapter, these are all "Samasri" souls i.e. Jivas-embodied souls of living beings subject to the cycles of births and deaths. As long as the shackles of Karmas remain which lead to the building of bodies for the next births, the deaths and birth will continue. Only when the proper time comes are the Jivas able to realise their heritage of the intrinsic qualities of their souls viz the purity, the nobility, the knowledge, the power and the bliss, and they set their feet firmly on the path to salvation by working for the destruction of all Karmas which till then were responsible for all the hindrances making their knowledge limited and nature deformed.
The other reality in the universe is Ajiva i.e. non-life nonsoul, which is divided into five types, Ajiva is matter which is eternal and consists of atoms. Ajiva constitutes the physical basis of the universe even as the Jiva constitutes the psychical Matter (Ajiva) has two states: (1) gross and (2) subtle; the former of which we are able to perceive and the latter is beyond the reach of our senses. Subtle matter for instance, is that matter which is transformed into the different kinds of "Karma".
Jainas have a special word, "Dravya," to denote a substance, and such substances are six according to Jainism.
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