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Appendix - 3
Six kinds of substances (Dravya)
Everybody wants to have a world view of all that we see with our eyes and all that we cannot see with our eyes. The purpose of having such a would view may be different for different persons. In the spiritual world, the main purpose is to realize the truth which leads to happiness and bliss. In this appendix we propose to provide such view with an emphasis on eternal Dravya and temporary combinations.
The smallest constituent of the matter is called Pudgala Paramäņu in the Jain vocabulary. All material things (such as table, chair, water ...), particles (such as atoms, protons, neutrons, mesons, electrons ...), and energy (such as light, sound, heat, etc.) known by the scientists so far can be considered as the combinations of innumerable Pudgala Paramāņu. According to Jain metaphysics, in this cosmos the number of souls as well as the number of Pudgala Paramāņu remains constant. Nobody can create and nobody can destroy any soul or any Pudgala Paramāņu. The law of conservation of energy accepted by the modern science is in agreement with the basic concept of conservation of Pudgala Paramāņu of Jain metaphysics. Thus science as well as Jain Metaphysics says that in the real sense, nothing can be created and nothing can be destroyed.
It does not mean that there is absence of words, creation' and 'destruction', in the dictionary of modern science or Jain metaphysics. Modern science as well as Jain metaphysics talks of creation and destruction also. When a goldsmith converts a bangle of gold into a necklace then we say that there has been destruction of the bangle and creation of the necklace. The modern science as well as Jain metaphysics would also say the same. But if we focus our attention on the substance gold then we would say that neither it is created nor it is destroyed. Only the form has changed. The gold which was initially in the form of the bangle has changed into the necklace form. Just like the permanency of gold to a common person, for scientists it is always important to look for that which remains permanent or eternal or conserved. Similarly, the philosophers have also been interested in observing that which remains permanent.
Definition of Dravya
In this regard the following Sutrā written by Acārya Umāsvamī are worth noting:
