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Jaina Philosophy
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liberated state the jiva resides at the top of the loka and is possessed of the 8 supreme qualities : Samyaktva, Jñana, Darsana, Virya, Sūkşma, Avagahana, Agurulaghu and Avyabadha. The liberated soul lives in eternal bliss 26 But the state of the soul is not to be considered as that of identity with the Absolute. Each soul retains its identity and lives in its pure and perfect state. In this connection, we may draw the analogy from a Western thinker regarding the status of the self in the perfect state. McTaggart's analogy of the “College of selves” would appear to be apter, although what type of spiritual unity there is in mokșa, Jainism cannot say. The neverceasing struggle of the soul is an important tenet in Jainism. The universe is not, then, an amusing pantamime of infallible marionettes, but a fight for perfection, in which 'something is eternally gained for the universe by the success.26
The next principle is Ajiva. It is the non-living principle. It is complementary to the Jiva and infact contrary to the Jiva. The Jaina view of the universe consists of a dychotomous division of the universe into the living and non-living, jiva and ajiva. Ajiva is of two kinds : Rūpi Ajiva (non-living substance with form) it is matter and Arūpi Ajiva it is form-less. Matter is called pudgala. The other four principles of Ajiva are Dharma (principle of motion) Adharma (Principle of rest) Akasa (space) and kala (Time). They are substances. In the Agama literature substances having form are called "mūrta" and those substances which have no form are called “amūrta”. This classification of the Ajiva substances has the cosmological overtone. (See Table No. 2). The Jainas, being realists in their approach, have attempted to present the foundational principle of the universe from the points of view of matter and energy. Both of them are equally important. Sthananga gives the metaphysical analysis of the distinction between the living and the non-living substances. 27.
Jainas have made a significant contribution to the understanding of the non-living substance called matter. It is Jada in the Āgamas, Sometimes Ātman embodied and associated with matter is also called Pudgala.28 But primarily the word Pudgala refers to the non-living substance which has form. We have already seen, five of the six substances except kala are called astikaya, because
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