A study of the philosophy of Jainism

by Deepa Baruah | 2017 | 46,858 words

This page describes the The Paryayas (modifications) of the Self from the study of the philosophy of Jainism: one of the oldest religions in India having its own metaphysics, philosophy and ethics. Jainism is regarded as an ethical system where non-violence features as an important ethical value.

Chapter IV.c - The Paryāyas (modifications) of the Self

The paryāyas or modifications of the self are of five kinds, viz., (i) aupaśamika, (ii) kṣāyika, (iii) kṣāyopaśamika, (iv) audayika and pāriṇāmika.

The aupaśamika state of the self arises when all the past karmaparamāṇus are stopped and no new karma–paramāṇus arise in the self. As for example, water becomes temporarily pure after clearing the pipe from mud which is pollute by the same.

The kṣāyika state arises when the karma–paramāṇus are totally expelled from the body of the self, just as in final liberation.

The kṣāyopaśamika state is the mixed combination of aupaśamika and kṣāyika, i.e., the karma–paramāṇus are partly made ineffective and are partly expelled, just as water is partly pure.

The audayika state of the self is that when the karma–paramāṇus arise and start giving fruits.

The pāriṇāmika state of the self means its innate nature, i.e., when the self does not depend upon karman, and it remains in its own nature. The pāriṇāmika state has three varieties, viz., bhavyatva, abhavyatva and jīvatva. Bhavyatva is that state when the self acquires the three ratnas; such as, samyak-jñāna or proper knowledge, samyak-darśana or proper faith and samyak-cāritra or proper behavior. Abhavyatva is that state when the self does not acquire these three ratnas. Jīvatva is synonymous with caitanya i.e. consciousness of the self. Jīvatva is manifested in two aspects of jñāna and darśana. Thus jñāna and darśana are two resultants of caitanya or jīvatva.

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