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Definition of Living
: 375
capacity of knowledge and conation. The living one has the capacity of experience and susceptibility towards sensation of various types. These capacities vary from a negligible extent to infinity depending on the types and development of livingness. The volitional activities are differentiating attributes supported by Akalanka26. These activities are related to mind or brain in current terms. Psychologists have delved deep into the nature and function of mind. Some have equated it with consciousness itself and called it as substantive. This substance may be materially protoplasmic or non-materially psychoplasmic as suggested by Bausfield27. The true definition of these two terms depends on the meaning of what we call material. In pre-microscopic age, the terms conveyed the idea of sense-imperceptibility, thus indicating its non-material nature. It has, however, become material in microscopic age.
Bhagavati and Dhavalā do not mention these volitional activities in this connection. Devasena also does not mention them. Instead, he mentions six special attributes of the living: consciousness, knowledge, conation, bliss, energy and nonmateriality ( with duplication of two – the first and last general attributes )28. He has also used different terms in this regard. Thus, despite consciousness being a common namal characteristics for the living, the terms used by canonists and procanonists seem to create some difficulty for general votary for proper understanding. Characteristics of the Living
The Jainas have characterised the living in many ways. They have some physical aspects attached to it. They also have some mental states associated with it. The physical aspects include - (a) Vitalities or Prānas (b) Completions or Paryāptis and (c) Instincts or Sanjñās. The mental aspect involves volitional activities, the manifesting symptoms of consciousness or Upayoga. (a) Upayoga or Functional Consciousness
Uttarādhyayana29, Bhagavat;30 and Sthānānga mention
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