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Reals in the Jaina Metaphysics THE VYAVAHĀRA KĀLA OR SAMAYA
Timings as present, past or future are called Vyavahāra Kāla or Samaya, i.e. Phenomenal Time by the Jaina's. It is characterised by the duration o'r 'Sthiti', as it is technically called, connected with a certain phenomena.
व्वपरिवट्टपो जो सो कालो हवेइववहारो।
परिनामादिलक्खों वटणलक्खो य परमठो।। Phenomenal Time is that which conditions a change in
a thing and which i's inferred from modifications in it. This Phenomenal Time, as we have seen, is not generated by or identical with the motions of bodies. But although the Phenomenal Time in itself is essentially different from the motions of bodies, we measure its extent or duration by a reference to these motions."
By the movements of celestial bodies, the phenomenal times such as hours, days, months or years are measured. To emphasise the fact that the movements of the celestial bodies are but measures and no generators of Time, the Jaina writers take care in adding that phenomenal timing is possible in spheres, e.g. in heavens and hells which are beyond the solar course. That other standards of Time are possible, is acknowledged by modern psychologists also. "But other orders of Time are conceivable and indeed,
in a sense, actual. Such for example, is the time of dreams, of works of imagination like an epic or a play; such too is absolute or mathematical Time” (“Time Dictionary Of Philosophy And Psychology).
THE NIśçAYA KĀLA OR NOUMENAL TIME
The Phenomenal Time is obviously impermanent. It may be of short or long duration; but it has its commencement and termination and hence it must be a modification of some Real which is its substratum. This substratum
1 As the author of the Tattvārtha-sāra says:
ज्योतिर्गतिपरिच्छिन्नों मनुष्यक्षेत्रवर्त्य सौ।
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