Some Jain Concepts and Conduct

Author(s): Sushma Singhvi
Publisher: B J Institute

Page 74

The Concept of Ātman]
[63
place in the Jain doctrine. Mundane souls are further classified into four categories according to the model point of view :
(1) Devagati (2) Manusyagati (3) Tiryancagati
(4) Narakagati
Every mundane soul belonging to any of the above categories is supposed to possess a body, gross or subtle, made of pudgala. The future mode to be attached to the soul is determined by the karmas of the soul. This attachment of the souls is for a particular duration. As soon as this duration is over, the old mode is shed off by the soul to have a new one. The mundane soul transfers itself from one mode of the other along with its taijasa and karmaņa bodies infinite times. In this process the new mode is created and the old is destroyed. However, there is not a least change in the Jīva dravya which justifies its dhrauvya. Anādi and ananta are the two fundamental qualities of the soul. The former is a safeguard against anavasthā dosa whereas the latter explains the dhrauvya of the Jiva.33
To conclude, the following points may be noted regarding the discussion held in the chapter : (1) Though, the different systems of Indian Philosophy disagree about the nature of self or the position of liberated soul, yet as far as the particle side of moral conduct is concerned, they seldom differ, (2) Secondly, in Jainism we find a combination of both types of systems of morality, those which emphasise on knowledge and those which emphasise on conduct and faith.
Foot Notes 1. Daśavaikālika sūtra, IV / 12 2. "tarati śokamātmavit" Chāndogyopanisad, VII/1/3. 3. “Ārma vā re drastavyaḥ śrotavyo mantavyo nididhyāsitavyaḥ"
Brhadāraṇyakopanisad, II 4/5 4. (a) “taccaitanyavisistadeha evātmā” saddarśanasamgraha, p.3