Microcosmology Atom in Jain Philosophy and Modern Science

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

Page 90

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Microcosmology: Atom
SUBSTANCE, QUALITIES, MODES
SUBSTANCE
In the Jain metaphysical terminology, 'dravya' (substance) denoted a real existence which is characterized by persistencethrough-change. The Non-absolutist Realism of Jains is based on the doctrine of persistence-through-change. While the absolutists find self-contradiction in asserting both permanence and change in the same reality with reference to identical space and time, the Non-absolutist Jains maintain that one need not be afraid of accepting this as the Truth, as the very nature of things-since our common experience-gives this as a fact. They, therefore, reject both an unchanging permanent real of Vedāntist and Parmenides and also mere eternal flux of Nihilists and Heraclitus. An unchanging permanent as well as mere change without a substratum are impossible abstractions. The Jains therefore, define substance (dravya) as "what is capable of eternal continuous existence through infinite succession of origination and cessation." 1 They also define it as "what possesses an infinite number of attributes." 2 and alternately as "the substratum of both qualities and modes."3
According to the Jains,"Substance is a real" because they assert the dynamic reality of dravya with permanent substantiality manifesting itself through (change in the form of) origination and cessation. The trinity of utpada (orignination), vyaya (cessation), dhrauvya (permanence) form the triple characteristics of reality.
QUALITIES AND MODES
Thus, the dynamic substance i.e. dravya is always associated with certain intrinsic and unalienable attributes called guņas (qualities). A substance does not exist without qualities because nothing can be (or exist) with being in some determinate
1. (a) Bhagavatī, uppaņņei vā, vigamei vä, dhuvei vā
(b) Tat. Su., 5.30: ut pada-vyaya-dhrauvya yuktam sat
2. Uttaradhyayana, 28-6: gunānāmāsao dravvam
3. I.J.T., 1-3: "guna-paryāyāśrayo-dravyam"