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A study of the philosophy of Jainism

by Deepa Baruah | 2017 | 46,858 words

This page describes the Two bodies of the Self (subtle and gross) 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.b - Two bodies of the Self (subtle and gross)

The self in its bound or empirical state is endowed with a body. It has two forms, viz., subtle and gross. When the self is influenced by the 첹ṣҲ of anger, delusion etc., it absorbs the karma-pudgalas into the parts of its being. The Jainas hold that karma–pudgalas are the subtle particles of matter. The space is full of such karma-pudgalas and the self absorbs the karma-particles because of 첹ṣҲ or passion. Kaṣāyas are four in number, viz., anger (krodha), pride (Բ), deceit () and greed (lobha). The karma–pudgalas and 첹ṣҲ are interdependent and mutually related as cause and effect from beginning less time. The karma–pudgalas which enter into the self, gather gross material elements around them. These formed by the gross material elements form gross body which is perceptible to all. The body formed by the karma-pudgalas is the subtle body which is also known as ṇaśī. It is imperceptible to the ordinary people. The subtle body is destroyed when the self attains liberation. Both the gross and the subtle bodies are eternally changing, and the number of the parts of the bound self increases and decreases due to the increase and decrease of the body. During the worldly life, the self is co-extensive with the body.

The bodies of the empirical selves are said to be of five kinds, viz., (i) ܻ첹-śī, (ii) vaikriyaka-śī, (iii) -śī, (iv) taijasa-śī and (v) ṇa-śī. The body which is gross and physical is called ܻ첹-śī. The body which is capable of transformation in different sizes and shapes is called vaikriyaka-śī. The body which is developed by a yogin is called 첹-śī. The body which is composed of the quality of heat is called taijasa-śī. The body which is composed by karmic matter is called ṇa-śī. Of these five kinds of bodies, every successive one is subtler than the preceding one. The last two types of bodies are attached to the self from beginningless time.

The Jainas further hold that the relation between the body and the self is that of identity-cum-difference. The bodies are identical with the self because the self experiences the pains and pleasures of the body. As the self is not destroyed with the destruction of the body, so they are different.

From the phenomenal point of view, the self or ī is described as possessing four ṇa. These are sense-organs (Իṛiⲹ), energy (bala), life () and respiration (ܳ). The four ṇa are manifest in ten forms. The Իṛiⲹs are five in number. There are three balas, viz., the mind, the body and speech. Ā and ܳ are one each. These four ṇa are the essential characteristics of any empirical self.

Jainism also hold that the self has three states i.e. bahirātman, antarātman and 貹ٳ. Bahirātman is the bodily self. It consists in the identification of the self with the body and external belongings. Գٲٳ is that state of the self which is free from all senses. ʲٳ is that state of the self which is free from the impurities of karman.

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