Heart of Jainism

SR No.: 011099
Original Sutra Author: N/A
Author: Mrs Sinclair Stevenson
Publisher: Mrs Sinclair Stevenson
Publication Year: 1915
Total Pages: 365
Language: English
Classification: Book_English
File Size: 29 MB

Page 128

102 THE NINE CATEGORIES OF v. Six Jiva, in two, in three, in four, and lastly in five ways. We classes. now come to the six ways in which Jiva may be divided,
namely, into Prithvikāya, Apakāya, Teukāya, Vāyukāya, Vanaspatikāya, and Trasakāya. Of these we have studied earth, water, fire, wind and vegetable lives, so it only remains for us to look at Trasakāya. The Jaina say that in the class of Trasakāya are included all lives that have the power of motion and which, when swayed by trāsa (dread), can try and get out of danger. All lives possessing two or more indriya are included under this heading as Trasakāya or mobile, whilst earth, water, fire, air and
vegetable are considered immobile. vi. Seven Again, Jiva may be classified in seven ways: hell beings classes.
(which are all neuter !), male lower animals, female lower animals, male human beings, female human beings, male
demigods and female demigods. vii. Eight This last is perhaps a somewhat artificial classification classes.
introduced for the sake of symmetry, but when we come to the next series, where Jiva is divided into eight classes, we touch on one of the most important points in Jaina philosophy, and one which it shares with the followers of Gośāla. The Jaina say Jiva may be divided into eight classes according to the six Leśyā 1 by which it is swayed, and according to whether it is swayed by any emotion or not. These emotions affect the colour of the soul they govern just as a crystal is coloured by the hue of the sub
stance on which it rests. vii (a). Beings in the first class, or Saleśī, include all who
are yet swayed by any of the three good or three bad
emotions. vii (6). Krişnaleśyā is the worst of the three bad emotions, and
it is described as being black as a thunder-cloud, bitter as a Neem tree, smelling like a dead cow, and rougher
1 Or Leśā.
? Jaina divisions are not, unfortunately for the student, mutually exclusive, and even include the whole along with its parts.