Jainism by Vividus

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

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primary constituent elements of the cosmos. They are so-called as the word denotes both Asti (existence) and Kaya (volume). Time, though a substance (to be precise a quasi-substance), is excluded from this group of Asti-Kayas because it does not come in this category of substances which are capable of having spatial relations in the sense that the other five substances are. Spatial relations should be differentiated from volume associated with matter. Time has no volume. Other matter has such volume. Matter has corporeality which is peculiar to itself. Matter is both 'murta' (corporeal) and 'amurta' (non-corporeal) and of this, only Pudgala is corporeal. All others viz Jiva (soul), Dharma, Adharma, Akasha are incorporeal, though they are Asti-Kayas having spatial relations. The Jiva is 'murta' (corporeal) only in association with and in relation to its embodied body when alive. A dead body is only pudgala murta, Jiva by itself is imperceptible. Besides, Jiva (soul) is a 'chetana' category (organic): others are 'achetanas' representing the inorganic world. Time category is different in nature from the five Asti Kayas in as much as the latter are capable of being simultaneously associated with multiple spatial points, while the former i.e. time has only unilateral relation of moments and is not capable of having simultaneous relations to a group of multiple points.
Coming to the subject of the nature of existence of existence of all these six substances (Pancha Asti-Kayas and time) i.e. Jlva, Pudgala, Dharma, Adharma, Akaha and Kala (the latter five being Ajiva) and the meaning of existence in Jainism as being, production, decay and permanence operating simultaneously, we can say that from the point of view of the essential nature of a thing, it is permanent and unchanging, but from the point of view of its accidental qualities it originates and decays or perishes. The soul is permanent in itself but in its relationship with a body, it begins and ends. The atoms of which gold is made are permanent while in the form of gold: when forged into a chain or a ring they originate and perish. A particular point of space is the same but its occu
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