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INTRODUCTION.
Jainism is the science which deals with the obtainment of supreme felicity, the highest good, for which every soul is, consciously or unconsciously, engaged in a constant struggle with the forces which prevent its realisation. It encourages neither Dogmatisin—thou shalt do this,' and thou shalt not do that'nor Mysticism, such as abounds in the scriptures of most of the creeds in the world, nor even anything else that may savour of superstition. It invites men, in the first instance, to understand the nature of the subject dear to their hearts and the Laws of Nature which govern and control the realisation of the great Ideal of Perfection and Happiness which all are trying to realise for themselves.
In the limited space furnished by the four corners of an Introduction, it is hardly possible to do more than set down the barest outline of the unique philosophy of an all-embracing and many-sided system like Jainism. I shall, therefore, refer the reader to my book, The Key of Knowledge,' where the entire subject has been dealt with in all its essential aspects.
Jainism points out that there are six kinds of Dravyas (substances) in existence, namely, -
1. Jiva (living substance, or intelligence), 2. Matter, 3. Dharma (a kind of ether which assists things in their movements), 4. Adharma (another kind of ether, or all-pervading force, which
is helpful in the cessation of motion), 5. Time, and
6. Space.
Of these, Space and Matter are well-known terms, but Time is the medium of continuity and succession, and Dharma and Adharma are the accompanying causes respectively of motiou and stationary states of beings and things. The Jiva Dravya (living substance or intelligence) is the essence of souls, and is the same as that called spirit. Each soul is a separate entity, immaterial, i.e., not composed of matter, uncreate and eternal, and is capable of fully realising, in and for itself, the Perfection and Happiness of Gods. It resides in Space, and continues in Time; one kind of ether, or force (Dharma), assists it in motion, and the other
