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Jaina Philosophy
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combinations have been mentioned. It would be desirable to make a thorough study of the Jaina theory of matter in the light of the researches in modern physics. We are likely to get startling similarity in the conceptual analysis of the matter as given by the Jainas and also of the recent study of matter in physics.
Dharmastikaya - in this universe jiva and pudgala have the capacity to movement. They have motion as a capacity ; the other four dravyas have no capacity of motion. Therefore Jiva and pudgala have been considered as gatisila and the others are sthitisila. For this kind of movement and rest their need to be media. They are the principle of motion and the principle of rest Dharma is the principle of motion and Adharma is the principle of rest.37 The terms dharma and adharma are here taken in the cosmic sense and have no ethical flavour. Dharma is the principle which is one and eternal. It is the principle of motion by which things in the world move. Movement is possible because of this principle. Dharma is itself unmoved. But movement is possible because of this principle. It has been suggested that Ether is this principle. There is an analogy very often quoted in this connection. Just as the movement for the fish is possible in water, so also movement in this universe is possible through the principle of dharma. Water itself may not have motion but the fish in the water can move because they are in water, in this sense water is the medium of motion. Similarly dharma is the principle through which motion is possible.
Gautama asked Mahavira what is the principle of Dharmastikaya for the Jivas ? Mahavira said, "O Gautama, if the principle of dharma were not operative there would be no motion - who would come ? and who would go ? how could the waves of the sound travel ? how could the eyelids open ? How would you talk ? the whole world would have remained stationery, but for the principle of dharma.38.
Adharmastikaya - it is the principle of rest. As dharma is necessary for movement, adharma is necessary for rest. It is also the cosmic principle because of this, things in the world are sometimes stationery, when it is necessary to be stationery. Just
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