________________ Verse 124 The space (akasa), the time (kala), the matter (pudgala), the medium-of-motion (dharma), and the medium-of-rest (adharma) do not possess the qualities (guna) of the soul (jiva). These have been said to possess non-consciousness or lifelessness (acetanatva); the soul (jiva) possesses consciousness (cetanatva). EXPLANATORY NOTE The space (akasa), the time (kala), the matter (pudgala), the mediumof-motion (dharma), and the medium-of-rest (adharma) do not possess the qualities (guna) of the soul (jiva). All objects have two kinds of qualities (guna)-the general (samanya) and the specific (vicesa). The general qualities express the genus (jati) or the general attributes, and the specific qualities describe the constantly changing conditions or modes. Consciousness (cetanatva) is a specific (visesa) attribute of the soul (jiva) when viewed in reference to non-souls but a general (samanya) attribute when viewed in reference to other souls. The knowledgeable man should distinguish his soul from all other substances by concentrating on the specific qualities of each substance. He knows the nature of his soul as eternal, not produced by any external entity, and equipped with the light of knowledge that knows the self as well as the other substances. He reckons, "I am not the substance of dharma, adharma, akasa, kala or pudgala; not even the other soul (iva). My nature of consciousness (cetanatva) makes me different from all other substances." In the soul that understands this distinction between the self and the non-self, the seed of delusion (moha) does not sprout. . . . . . . . . . . 235
