Outlines of Jainism

Author(s): J L Jaini, F W Thomas
Publisher: Cambridge University Press

Page 69

METAPHYSICS : V. THE FIVE MAGNITUDES
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The term dharma is used in many senses. In Indian philosophy it meant" property”, “ quality.”,"characteristic", and in theology “duty”, specially religious duty, and thus religion itself. In modern times it popularly means “religion ", and sometimes the “highest duty” of a man or a community. Originally it ineant “rule”, “ law” also, as in dharma-śāstras, “law-books”; but now this use is obsolete, except in that phrase. Dharma is also used as equivalent to piety; a dharmātman is a inan who is pious, good, benevolent. Further, dharma means meritorious deeds; as so-and-so has done a work of dharma, e.g. by feeding or clothing the poor, by building a temple, etc., etc.
This variety of uses has had a confusing effect upon all. Jaina philosophy has suffered especially. The technical and peculiar sense in which dharma and uhurma are employed in Jaina metaphysics is sometimes entirely missed, even by leading Orientalists: e.g., in Dr. Guérinot's excellent Essai de Bibliographie Jaina, at pp. xvii and xviii, we read : “D'autre part l'ajiva, qui se subdivise en cinq espèces :
1° Le dharma, la loi religieuse, le mérite, la droite conduite.
2° L'udharma, ou principe contraire au précédent, soit le démérite, le péché.”
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The universe is divided into jīva and ujiva. " Ajira is subdivided into five species: (1) dhurma, religious law, merit, right conduct; (2) adharma, or the principle contrary to the preceding, say, deinerit, sin.”