Stress Academy Presents:
Web Series – The Story of Stress
Part 1 – Understanding Stress
Episode 4 – Where does Our Awareness
Come From?
In the previous video, we learned the fundamental structure of the universe. From the Jain perspective, the universe is made up of six types of substances which possess a basic structure of a substance, attributes and changing modes.
We also realized that matter particles in nature (including the particles of the living body) don’t possess permanent attributes such as awareness, emotions, beliefs and happiness.
So where do these attributes come from? Let’s look at the concept of six substances to answer this question.
Six substances found in the universe are (1) Consciousness (Jiv) (2) Matter (Pudgal) (3) Medium of Motion (Dharmastikaya) (4) Medium of Rest (Adharmastikaya) (5) Space (Akash) (6) Time (Kaal). (1) Consciousness (Jiv) primarily consists of attributes such as knowledge (or awareness), belief, emotions and happiness (or unhappiness) and others. Matter (Pudgal) is a substance that primarily possesses attributes such as touch, taste, color, smell and mass. Medium of motion (Dharmastikaya) is the field facilitating forces instrumental in the motion of matter and consciousness. Medium of rest (Adharmastikaya) is the field facilitating dissipative forces instrumental for bringing objects in motion to rest. Space (Akash) is a substance that has an ability to contain all other substances in nature. Time (Kaal) is a substance that has an ability to serve as a catalyst for change of states within all substances in time domain. It is worth noting that the consciousness (Jiv) is the only substance that is living and all other substances are non living.
Let’s do a quick comparison of these substances with modern physics without going into too much detail. The standard model of physics, which is the latest theory of particle physics, classifies elementary particles into two categories: (1) Matter particles known as “fermions” which possess mass (2) Force particles known as “bosons” which are without mass. The matter particles “fermions” of the standard model correspond to matter substances known as Pudgal in the Jain philosophy. The matter substance is seen and experienced by each of us every moment through our senses and thus it is self-explanatory. In chemistry, we learn about different atoms combining to form various types of molecules. Similarly, elementary matter particles in Jain philosophy known as Anu combine to form various molecules known as skandhas. Force particles “bosons” in the standard model facilitate various forces in nature. Likewise, the medium of motion and medium of rest facilitate various forces in nature, which becomes instrumental in bringing objects to motion and rest respectively. The concept of space and time is also extensively studied in modern physics. The only substance that is perhaps not studied extensively in modern science is the Consciousness (Jiv).Therefore, the scientific community will obviously ask for evidence about the existence of consciousness (Jiv). We will present the scientific evidence about the existence of consciousness in future videos. Since we are dealing with the subject of stress management, the study of living beings and their interactions with nature is of primary importance here and therefore, we will limit our discussion only on consciousness (Jiv) and matter (Pudgal) substances in this video series.
The graphic below summarizes the Jain view of the universe.(2)
There is a fixed but infinite number of consciousness (Jiv) in the entire cosmos.(1) Each consciousness corresponds to a particular living being. One individual consciousness pervades the entire body of that living being. It is the consciousness that possesses the attributes such as awareness, beliefs, emotions and happiness. The living being remains aware and alive due to the presence of consciousness in the body. Death is an event when the consciousness separates from the body. The body becomes lifeless without consciousness.
The consciousness or Jiv substance can be further classified into two categories: (1) non-liberated worldly living beings (2) liberated living beings.(2) Their details will be presented in future videos as well.
These six substances have been documented in Jain scripture Panchastikay Sangrah and Pravachansar by Jain Acharya Kund Kund around 1st century CE.
You may be wondering how did these substances in the universe come into existence? Did someone create them or they always existed? Do they have a beginning and an end? These are very important questions regarding stress. If someone has an ability to independently create and destroy something in nature then does that not imply a threat to our own existence? Does that mean we have to remain under perpetual fear of being destroyed? What do you think?
We will answer these questions in the next video. Before you go, don’t forget to like, comment and subscribe. Feel free to leave your questions in the comments section.
References:
- Acharya Kundkund. Panchastikay Sangrah. India. ~100 C.E.
English translation and explanation by Vijay K. Jain, inspired by Acharya Vishuddha Sagar. 2020 C.E.
Available at: https://jainelibrary.org/book-detail/?srno=036508
- Acharya Kundkund. Pravachansar. India. ~100 C.E.
English translation and explanation by Vijay K. Jain, inspired by Acharya Vishuddha Sagar. 2018 C.E.
Available at: https://jainelibrary.org/book-detail/?srno=034445
