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Biological Issues in the Bh.S
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7. Five sensed beings 7, 5 senses, physique-power, life-span 06
bio-potential not
completed 8. Four-sensed-beings 16, 4 senses, power physique, life-span
with bio-potential
not-completed 9. Three-sensed beings 5, 3 senses, power of physique,
with bio-potential life-span
not-completed 10. Two-sensed beings 4, 2 senses, power of psyque,
with bio-potential life-span
not-completed 11. One-sensed beings 13, 1sense, physique strength, life-span | 04
with bio-potential
not-completed 12. Beings of 13th spiritual 4, physique and vocal strength, stage
respiration, and life-span 13. Beings of 14th spiritual 1-3, (i) life-span only (ii) respiration stage
and life-span (iii) respiration, life
span, strength of physique {C} Bio-potentials or Paryāptis
The Bh.S presents a long list of the living beings divided on different bases. In short, they are of two forms--with developed bio-potential and without developed bio-potential or underdeveloped. Technically they are called "paryăpta' and 'aparyăpta'.47 Wether an organism born in a particular state of existence is developed or underdeveloped depends on the biopotentials. The development or underdevelopment of a being, thus, would depend on the complete or incomplete development of the corresponding bio-potential as indicated. The remarkable thing here is that the bio-potential is also required for livingness.
The concept of bio-energy (prāņa) is seen in the early literature of the Indian thought but the concept of bio-potentials i.e. paryāpti is unique to the Jains. It is found in Bh.S.,48 Jīvābhigama, 49 Satkhandāgama and the like50 which are the representative works of the Jain philosophy.
Bio-potential means the building up of material forces at the very beginning of rebirth.51 The bio-potential is six-fold,52 viz., aliment, body, sense-organ, inhaling- exhaling, speech and mind. The alimentary biopotential mean the production of material capacity for functioning as appropriation, transformation and elimination of alimentary matter. The bio-potentials of body etc. also work in the same way. All the six biopotentials come into existence at the time of rebirth but the development of
