Microcosmology Atom in Jain Philosophy and Modern Science

Author(s): Jethalal S Zaveri, Mahendramuni
Publisher: Jain Vishva Bharati

Page 126

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Microcosmology : Atom 6. (a) PUDGALA IS INFINITE (NUMERICALLY).
(b) SPATIALLY, IT FILLS THE ENTIRE UNIVERSE.
The ultimate elementary constituents of pudgala are paramānus which are numerically infinite. It follows, therefore, that subtantially pudgala is also numerically infinite.
Maximum extension of entire physical existence is cosmos (loka) i.e., spatially pudgala remains in the cosmos (loka) only and it pervades the total space of the cosmos.
7. PUDGALA INTERACTS WITH AND INFLUENCES PSYCHIC ORDER OF EXISTENCE.
Psychical and physical orders of existence act and are acted upon by one another. Pudgala has the propensity for being attracted (and transformed by conscious substance (or jīva). Each individual jīva, in its worldly existence or unemancipated state, continuously interacts with karma-pudgala or karmic matter.
It has already been stated that all the different groups (vargaņās) of pudgala do not interact with the jīva. The eight groups of pudgala which do interact with jīva will be briefly described in the next section.
Out of these, the group which interacts ceaselessly with jīva is kārmana group or karma pudgala. The union between the psychical and the physical is devoid of priority and posteriority, and so intimate, that for all practical purposes they appear to be identical and inseparable in the state of worldly existence.
By its own nature, the jīva is always changing, but in the state of worldly existence the change is determined mostly by the nature of the karma that is associated with it. Again, the nature of the karma itself is determined by the nature of the passions and perversion of the jīva and the intensities of passions, etc., are again determined by the nature of the karma. Thus, they are mutually interdependent.
The karma matter associated with jīva determines not only the nature and intensities of passions, but also the life-span type of gross body viz., audārika or vaikriya, during the life-span etc. The gross body is then the instrument of experiencing pleasure