1.2. Soul in Jain Philosophy

jivo carittadamsanananatthido tam hi sasamayam jana
poggalakammuvadesasatthiyam ca tam jana parasamayam || 2 ||
  —(Samayasara^[1] )

‘Know that the jiva (soul) which rests on pure perception,^[2] knowledge, and conduct, alone is the Real Self. The one which is conditioned by the Karmic matter is to be known as the impure self.’^[3]

According to Jaina philosophy,

‘The soul is one of the six realities that constitute the universe.’^[4]

It is neither a part of a collective consciousness nor have created by a super natural power.

It is one of the six substances, that are:

1. jiva dravya (sentient being or soul),
2. ajiva dravya (matter),
3. dharma dravya (principle of motion),
4. adharma dravya (principle of rest),
5. akasha (space) and
6. kala (time).

From the English Translation of Tattvarthasutra of Umasvati:

utpada-vyaya-dhrauvyayuktam sat
  —(Tattvarthasutra 5.30)

‘Origination, cessation and persistence constitute existence.’^[5]

Here the point to be noted is that the soul and the matter share the same qualities, the only addition into soul is that it also possesses consciousness.

A reality of substance, whether soul or matter, has three properties:

1. ‘It experiences transformation and changes its structure. Each form is known as a paryaya.’^[6] Like matter, consciousness also undergoes continuous change, at the same time, keeping its essence intact naturally.

2. ‘It has the property of devastation, for example one structure is annihilated and different originates.’^[7] Between these tiny changes lie the code of bigger transformations.

3. ‘During the process of transformation and obliteration, the inborn idea of the reality of the matter is saved, i.e. its fundamental characteristic is lasting and not modified.’^[8] The core qualities of the soul are right knowledge, right perception, infinite power and bliss.

Footnotes and references:

[1]:

Acharya Kundakunda. Samayasara. Hindi Granth Karyalaya. 2^nd Edition: 2012. Chapter-1. Shloka-2

[2]:

In the original translation it is faith.

[3]:

Jain K. Vinay (Translator). Acharya Kundkund’s Samayasara. 2^nd Edition (1994). Kundakunda Bharti. New Delhi. pp. 3

[4]:

Dr. Tater Sohan Raj, The Jaina Doctrine of Karma & The Science of Genetics (TJDKTSG). First published 2009. Readworthy Publications (P) Ltd. pp. 19

[5]:

Tatia Nathmal (Translator). That Which Is. English Translation of Tattvarthasutra of Umasvati). Yale University Press. New Haven &London. First Edition: 2011. pp. 135

[6]:

TJDKTSG pp. 20

[7]:

Ibid. pp. 20

[8]:

Ibid. pp. 20