1. What is 'Dravya' (substance) ?
- That which has qualities (guna) and modes (paryaya), is a substance, for instance, gold is a matter-substance, having appearance / shape is its quality, necklace, crown, bangle ,etc. are modes of the substance and yellowness is the mode of the quality of its appearance. Quality and mode do not exist without substance, similarly there is no existence of substance without quality and mode.
- Which existed in the past, also exists today and will also exist in future ,i.e. which never destroy, is called substance.
2. In what form the modern science regards the substance ?
Modern science regards that neither we create any substance nor can destroy any one. This principle is known as 'Principle of Indestructibility'.
3. What are the kinds of substance ?
Substance are six - Living being (Jeeva), Matter (Pudgala), medium of Motion (Dharma), medium of Rest (Adharma), Space (Akasha), and Time (Kala).
4. What is 'Jeeva'?
Who posseses consciousness of vision (Darshana) and cognitive consciousness (Iñāna chetna), is Jeeva, or who lived, is living and will live, is Jeeva.
5. What is 'Pudgala Dravya' ?
Which is with the property of touch, taste, smell and colour, which is without sensation, is of the nature of mixing (Poorana) and decaying (Galan), is called 'Pudgala Dravya'.
6. What Pudgala is called in the language of Science ?
The ‘Pudgala' is called fusion and fisson in the language of Science. Fusion means 'Similarity', 'Joining together', fisson means 'to be scattered', 'to be spreaded', or Integration and disintigration. Integration means 'unification', 'to unite', disintegration means to be separated. It is (Pudgala Dravya) also called 'Matter'.
7. How many kinds are of 'Pudgala' ?
There are two kinds -
1. Anu - Indivisible and of single space-point matter-substance, is 'Anu' or 'Parmanu'. 'Anu' is not bodied because it is of single space-point, therefore, pure bodied (Astikaya, having a body of magnitude) are four, figuratively, the 'pudgala' 'Anu' or 'Parmanu' has been called as 'bodied'. Thus 'bodied' (Astikaya) are five. 'Asti' means existence, 'kaya' mean of multi-space-points.
2. Skandha (Mass or Aggregate of particles) - A lump of two, three, four, eight, numerable, innumerable and infinite matter particles ,are Skandha'. 'Skandha are of six kinds -
1. Badara-Badara (Gross-Gross) - Those substances which being broken into pieces can not be united together, on their own, are gross-gross ('Badar-Badar'), for instance, stone, wood, metal,,cloth etc.
2. 'Badara' (Gross) - Those substances which being broken into pieces are united together (joined), on their own, are 'Badara', for instance-water, milk, mercury.
3. Badara-Sukshma (Gross fine bodies) - Which can be seen but can not be caught, that is called gross fine bodies ('Badara Sukshma') like shadow light, darkness, moonlight etc.
4. Sukshma-Badara (Invisible existing matters) - Which can not be seen by eyes but are felt by other senses, are 'Sukshma-Badara', like air, smell , etc.
5. Sukshma micro particles (invisible) - Which is not the subject of any sense ,i.e. totally invisible, like aggregate of karmic molecules.
6. Sukshma-Sukshma (Aggregate of two particles of a matter) - Aggregate of two excessive micro matter substances are called 'Sukshma-Sukshma Skandha'. It is the last (final) unit of 'Skandha'.
8. What is 'Dharma-Dravya'?
'Dharma Dravya' is that substance which is the accompanying cause of motion in moving, shaking-swinging, coming-going of moveable beings and things. It remains passive, it is intangible and non-sensitive. It is not the subject of any sense, only Omniscient knows it. Just like water is a helping cause in swimming for a fish, sky space is the helping cause for a aeroplane in keeping it in motion and the railway track is a helping cause for the train to move forward.
9. What is the opinion of scientists about 'Dharama Dravya'?
Science accepts it as Ether. It regards Ether as intangible, extensive, passive and invisible and also considers it a necessary medium of motion. Einstein, accepting accompanying cause of motion, has also said, "Universe (Loka) is limited and cosmic space (Aloka) is unlimited as compared to universe. The reason behind limited universe is that the matter substance (Dravya) or force can not move out of universe because that force which is a helping cause for motion is absent there".
10. What is 'Adharma Dravya'?
Which is the accompanying cause of the stationary state of beings and matters that are resting, i.e. not moving, is 'Adharma Dravya' (Medium of rest). It is also passive, intan gible, non-sensitive and all-pervasive, like tree is helpful in taking rest by the traveller.
11. What would happen if 'Dharam Dravya'and 'Adharma Dravya'would not have been inactive (passive) ?
Chaos / wrangling would have occurred, if Dharma and Adharma substances were not passive. Because 'Dharma Dravya' would have impelled beings and matters to move and 'Adharma Dravya' to rest. Situation would have bungled from this and then neither we could have moved nor would have taken rest. It is good that they are passive. If any one wishes to move, the Dharma Dravya is there to help him, if any one wants to rest, the 'Adharma Dravya' is ready to help him.
12. Where do Dharma & Adharma Dravya live ?
'Dharma' & 'Adharma Dravya' are spreaded throughout in the whole Lokakasha. Just as the oil is found in the sesame and ghee in the milk, likewise these two 'Dravya' are permeated in the whole space (Lokakasha).
13. What is 'Akasha Dravya ?
Which gives space to Jiva ,etc. all 'Dravya', is 'Akasha Dravya (space). It is also intangible, non-sensitive and inactive (passive). Though both 'Jiva' and 'Pudgala' (Matter) also provide accomodation (space) to each other, yet the base of all of them is space.
Note - The visible blue matter above us is not space it is cloud, the mass of matter.
14. Whether other Philosophies and Science accept existence of 'Akasha Dravya'?
Other Philosophies have also accepted existence of "Akasha Dravya' but not the difference between universe space (Lokakasha) & cosmic space (Alokakasha), therefore, they do not recognize 'Dharma' & 'Adharma Dravya'. Modern Science also recognizes difference between these two spaces which is clear from the illustration of Einstein's statement in connection with the 'Dharma Dravya'.
15. Of how many kinds the 'Akasha is ?
Of two kinds - Lokakasha, Alokakasha -
- Lokakasha (universe space) - Where all the six substances are present.
- Alokakasha (non- universe space) - Where only one 'Akasha Dravya exists.
16. What is Kala Dravya (time substance) ?
Main characteristic of which is continuous imperceptible minute change, is 'Kala Dravya', i.e. which itself being transforming, acts as a passive cause of cooperation in getting other substances transformmed. It does not cause change in matter-substances forcibly but matters do change, on their own, in its presence. It is like the spike on the lower portion of the potter's wheel that neither itself moves nor causes the wheel to move, even then the wheel can't revolve without it. There is also an another example - The handle (rod) in the ceiling fan neither moves itself nor it causes the fan to move yet the fan can not revolve without it. It (time) is also passive (inactive), intangible, non-sensitive and all pervading.
17. What are the kinds of Kala ?
There are two kinds of Kala - 'Vyavahara Kala' (universal time units or conventional time) and 'Nishchaya Kala' (The time factor causing transformation of any entity ,i.e. Dravya).
1. Vyavhara Kala - Minute, hour, day ,etc. are 'Vyavhara Kala Dravya'.
2. Nishchaya Kala - That which is an assisting (auxillary) cause in getting each substance transformed at every instance, is 'Nishchaya Kala Dravya'.
18. What is Samaya (Time-period)?
A very smallest time-unit (moment) is 'Samaya' or time taken by an atom of a matter substance in moving from one space-point to the next in very slow gait (speed), is called 'Samaya'.
19. The Samaya is alright but the Nishchaya Kala is not clear to the eyes and mind ?
If we accede only time as time, then it is not eternal, it comes into being and disappears / destroys the next instant, hence it is proved that the Samaya, is a mode. Now of which substance, this Samaya is the mode, that very substance is named as Nishchaya Kala.
20. Enumerate the numbers and space points of each matter-substance ?
'Jiva Dravyas' (living beings) are infinite-times-infinite but one single Jiva occupies (inhabits) innumerable space-points. 'Pudgala Dravyas' (Matters) are also infinite-times-infinite but infinite times more than 'Jiva Dravya'. 'Pudgala Dravyas' are of numerable, innumerable and also of infinite space-points - 'Dharma Dravya' (medium of motion) is one and occupies innumerable space points. 'Adharma Dravya' (medium of rest) is one and it also occupies innumerable space-points. 'Akasha Dravya' (space) is one indivisible 'Dravya'. It is of infinite space-points, but Lokakasha (universe space) is of innumerable space-points. Kala Dravyas are innumerable. Each unit of time is distinct and occupies one unit of spacepoint. Thus innumerable Kala Dravyas pervade the entire universe-space, each occupying one space point like the mass of gems. It (Kala Dravya) itself inhabits one space point.
21. What is space-point (Pradesh)?
The extent to which an atom besieges space, is called 'Pradesh',i.e. space-point.
22. What is the favour/function of Jiva Dravya ?
Living beings (Jiva) render help to one another. Acharya Shri UmaSwamiji Maharaj, has said (written) in 'Tatvartha Sutra'- 'Parasparopagraho Jivanam', like Master (Seth) - Book-keeper (accountant). Master (Seth) helps the Book-keeper by paying salary to him and the Book-keeper too works honestly thereby brings four-fold progress of the shop ,i.e. Seth earns more profit. It is help (favour) rendered by the Book-keeper to the Seth. Likewise there is reciprocal favour (help) between the teacher and the taught. There is also mutual help between Deity & devotee as also between a blind and a lame.
23. What is the help rendered by 'Pudgala Dravya'?
Pudgala (Matter) favours Jiva (living beings). It favours (helps)Jiva in his pleasure & pain, life and death, body, mind, speech, vitality, in exhaling air and in inhaling air. These all are favours of the matter on the Jiva. Matter favours matter, for example to wash the cloth with the soap, to clean the utensils with the ash. Favours (help) of the four remaining matters are, precisely their particular characteristics.
24. How the universe-space (Lokakasha) occupying innumerable space-points accom modates infinite-fold Jiva and infinite-times-infinite 'Pudgala'?
It is because of the occupancy - power / capacity (Avgahanatva) of the universe-space (Lokakasha) and due to minute transformation in the atoms/particles of matter-substance, for instance, a vessel is full of milk, even one drop, if poured in it, shall overflow. But if a little sugar is dropped in it by degrees, it shall get dissolved. Now gradually put some grains of 'Rajgir' in it, these will also be incorporated in the milk, then cast a iron nail in it, it will also be incorporated. Similarly universe-space (Lokakasha) occupying innumberable spacepoints inhabits infinite - fold (infinite-times-infinite) living beings (Jiva) and Matters (Pudgala). An another example - A room contains light of one bulb, still light of thousands of bulb also gets accommodated there ,i.e. light from several bulbs in a room intermingles.
25. What are the modes (form) of Pudgala Dravya ?
These are - word (sound), union, fineness, (i.e. micro particles), grossness, shape (configuration), division, darkness, image, warm light (sun shine) and cool light (moon-light), etc.
