Reals on the Jaina Metaphysics

Author(s): Harisatya Bhattacharya
Publisher: Shatnidas Khetsy Charitable Trust Mumbai

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Reals in the Jaina Metaphysics
uishes it from Matter which has for its essential attributes, taste, colour, touch and smell."
Thus, Dharma is neither identical with Matter nor with Time. How then is it a Real ? A Real is, as we indicated in our second lecture,
उत्पादव्ययध्रोव्ययुक्तं सत् । (तत्वार्थाधिगमसूत्र-५-२९) A real is a substance which has origin, decay as well as persistence.
Its particular manifestations and modes come and go: but it perslsts so far as its essential nature is concerned.?
The substantial nature of Dharma determines the motions of moving things. In these motions which have their origins and terminations, the particular modifications of Dharma are manifest. But Dharma has a persisting nature of its own which is eternals.
OBJECTION TO DHARMA AND ADHARMA AS REALS
It may be contended that we have no Pratyakṣa or direct knowledge about the reality of Dharma and Adharma. Our perception, in other words, does not tell us that there are Reals such as Dharma and Adharma which condition the motion and the stoppage of things. How then can we admit their reality? The Jaina's answer that their reality is proved by their functioning. We are bound to, and as a matter of fact we do admit the reality of many things which we
1 According to some Jainas both Kāla and Dharma are eternal and formless substances which have Pradeśa's or parts. But while the irreducible parts of Kāla are strictly separate from each other, the parts of Dharma are wholly adhesive, so to say, making Dharma TIG or a continuous whole. 2 It is said :
अगु लघुगुहिं सया तेहिं अणन्तेहिं परिणदं निचचं । गदिकरियाजुत्ताणं कारणभूदं सयमकज्ज ।। ९१।।
Ibid. 3 This nature is described as "T757&T'i.e. neither heavy nor light. In other words, the movements of things show that there is an uncaused cause of these movements which, though manifesting itself infinitely in these movements, is not exhausted in them. It persists. Any substance, continuing unchanged in its essential nature amidst its infinite functionings is a Real. Hence Dharma as a Real substance.