1. Fundamentals of Jainism
Pravin K. Shah
JAINA Education Committee
Jain Study Center of North Carolina
509 Carriage Woods Circle
Raleigh, NC
Website:
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2. Jain Beliefs Fundamental Beliefs Soul and Karma exist from Eternity
Karma is attached to the Soul from Eternity
The Soul is in Mithyatva (ignorance and wrong belief) from Eternity
The Principle governing the successions of life cycles (Birth, Life, and Death) is Karma.
Our Mithyatva and the intention behind our actions of body, mind, and speech continue to bind us with new Karma.
Karma / Mithyatva is the root cause of all Sufferings
Ultimate goal of life is Liberation from Karma (Removal of Mithyatva in turn removes all Karma).

3. Aim of Jainism
To attain Freedom of Soul by Freeing it from its bondage to Karma.
Questions
What is Soul?
What is Karma?
What are their Qualities?
What is Bondage?
What is Freedom?
How is the Soul bounded by Karma?
How can one obtain Freedom of the Soul?
Answer requires the proper knowledge of the Universe and its substances particularly Soul and Karma and their relationship.

4. Jain Religion Definition
Absolute Point of View:
The True Nature of a substance is the Religion of a substance
Practical Point of View:
Any activity of Body, Mind and Speech which reduces Kashay (Anger, Ego, Deceit, and Greed) is a religious activity

5. Morality vs. Spirituality
Individual
Person
Following
Law and Order
Not Following
Law and Order
Moral
Immoral
Spiritual
Non-spiritual

6. Morality vs. Religion (Continued)
Jain Morality (Vyavahar Dharma)
Conduct in accordance with the rules prescribed by Arihants / Tirthankars
Our action is accompanied by compassion, friendship, love, sympathy, equanimity etc. otherwise our conduct is mere hypocrisy
Jain Religion (Nischaya Dharma)
Purity of soul which results from the above action (Removal of Karma / Mithyatva)

7. Universe and its Substances
The Universe is made-up of six eternal and independent substances:
Six Universal Substances (Entity/Dravya)
Jiva Soul or Living being
Pudgal Matter
Dharma Principle of Motion
Adharma Principle of Rest
Akasa Space
Käl Time

8. Characteristics of a Substance
Utpada Origination
Vyaya Destruction
Dhrauvya Permanence

9. Universe and its Substances
Paryay -
Every substance is continuously going through Origination and Destruction. These are the Transient Characteristics of a Substance known as Paryay or Modification of a Substance.
Dravya -
While going through continuous changes, certain qualities of a substance remain unchanged. These are the Permanent Characteristics of a substance known as Dravya of a Substance.
Dravya and Paryay are inseparable.

10. Soul - Living Being Every Soul is Individual, Independent, and Eternal
Two Types of Souls
Free or Liberated Soul (Siddha)
Bonded or Worldly Soul (Samsari)

11. Free or Liberated Soul Free from all Karma Known as Siddha or God
Possesses Infinite (Perfect) Knowledge, Vision, Power, and Bliss
Has No Physical Body
Free from Cycle of Birth and Death
Free from Pain and Pleasure
Infinite number
Lives in Moksha

12. Worldly (Samsari) Soul
Covered with Karma (Matter)
Doer of all Karma (Actions)
Recipient of Fruits of Karma
Wanders in Cycles of Birth and Death
Feels Pain and Pleasure
Possesses Limited Knowledge, Vision, Power, Bliss
Possesses Physical Body (Matter)
Possesses Contraction and Expansion properties
Infinite Number
Capable of becoming Free or Liberated

13. Worldly Souls (Continued)
Possess One to Five senses (because of its association with Matter/Karma)
Touch - One Sense
Taste - Two Senses
Smell - Three Senses
Sight - Four Senses
Hearing - Five Senses

14. One Sense Soul One Sense Soul is called Ekendria
Earth as body - Prithvikaya
Water as body - Apakaya
Fire as body - Agnikaya
Air as body - Vayukaya
Plant as body - Vanaspatikaya

15. One Sense Soul (Continued)
Vanaspatikaya (Plant as body) - two types
Pratyek Vanaspatikaya
Above ground vegetables, fruits, beans, etc.
Each plant has innumerable cells
Each cell is occupied by one soul
Hence such Plant has Innumerable souls
Sadharan Vanaspatikaya (Nigod or Kandmul ...Potatos, Onions, Carrots etc..)
Under ground vegetables
Each cell is shared by infinite souls
Hence such a Plant has Infinte souls

16. Two to Five Sense Souls Two senses - Beindriya
worms, leeches
Three senses - Treindriya
ants, lice
Four senses - Chaurendriya
flies, bees
Five senses - Panchendriya
animals, birds, humans, heavenly bodies, hellish bodies etc.

17. Five Sense Souls Five sense beings (Panchendriya) are of two types
Living beings without mind
Can not attain Samyaktva and hence no liberation
Living beings with mind
Can attain Samyaktva
However animals, heavenly, and hellish beings cannot attain or observe proper conduct and hence cannot attain liberation
Only Human beings can attain Samyaktva and proper conduct and hence liberation

18. Matter (Pudgal) Non-living Substance
Possesses No Consciousness, No Knowledge
Infinite Number
Possesses Body
Possesses Senses
Touch, Taste, Smell, Sight, and Hearing
Color
Occupies Space
Skandha, Skandha-desa, Skandha-pradesa, Paramanu (Atom)

19. Eight Vargana (Matters)
All matters are classified into eight categories
Audaric Vargana Physical body
Tejas Vargana Tejas body - heat, digestion
Aharak Vargana Aharak body - small in size
Vaikriya Vargana Vaikriya body - small or large
Karman Vargana Karmic or Causal body
Swashoswäsh (Breathing) Vargana Provides breathing
Mano (Mind) Vargana Provides mind for thinking
Bhäshä (Speech) Vargana Provides speech

20. Five Bodies Matter is composed of five different bodies
Audaric body Physical body
Every soul possesses this body
Tejas body Tejas body - heat, digestion
Aharak body Aharak body - small in size
Only certain monks possesses this body
Vaikriya body Vaikriya body - small or large
Heavenly and hellish beings possess this body
Karman body Karmic or Causal body

21. Karma
Karma is matter (Pudgal) and hence it possesses all characteristics of matter
No consciousness / knowledge
Very fine particles
Can not be seen/feel/verified
Entire Universe is filled with Karma particles

22. Principle of Motion (Dharma) and Principle of Rest (Adharma)
Non-living Substance
No Consciousness
One and Whole
No Senses, Color, and Body
Exist in Lokakas.
Dharma helps motion of Soul/matter
Adharma helps to rest Soul and matter

23. Space (Akasa) Space (Akasa) Non-living Substance No Consciousness
Everywhere (infinite)
One and Whole
Self Supported
No Form, Color, Touch, Taste, Smell, Sight, Hearing
Lokäkäs - Provides space to all other Entities
Soul, Matter, Dharma, Adharma, and Time
Alokäkäs - Infinite Empty Space

24. Yojan and Rajlok Measurement
1 Danda or Bow = 6 feet
2000 Danda or Bow = 1 Kosha
4 Kosha = 1 Yojan 9.0 miles)
Some other books give different measurement
1 Dhanu = 6 feet
4000 Dhanu = 1 Yojan miles)
1000 Yojans = 1 Mahayojan
Räjlok or Rajju
The distance traveled in six months by a ball of iron weighing 1,000 bhar (1000 tolas or 25 lb.) if allowed to fall freely from heaven (Indralok) or
A distance traveled by a deva (heavenly being) in six months at a rate of 2,057,152 Yojan in one samay (Samay = unit of time second)
x 10E21 miles

25. Universe (Lokakas) Total Height = 14 Rajju
Upper world Height = 7 Rajju
Middle world
Width = 1 Rajju
Height = 1800 Yojan
900 Yojan up and 900 Yojan down from surface
Lower world Height = 7 Rajju
Loka Volume = 343 Cubic Rajju (Digambar)
Loka Volume = 239 Cubic Rajju (Swetambar)

26. Time (Kal) One View - Another view -
Imaginary
No real existence
Another view -
Real existence
Innumerable time atoms
Measures changes of Soul and Matter
Not a cause of changes

27. Time (Samay or Kal)
Smallest indivisible portion of Time is called one Samay
Innumerable Samaya = One Avali
256 Avali = One Kshullak-bhav
Approx 17.5 Kshullak-bhav = One Breath (inhale + exhale)
3773 Breaths = One Muhurat (48 minutes)
16,777,216 Avalis = One Muhurat
2 Ghadi = One Muhurat
One Muhurat = 48 minutes
30 Muhurat = One Day
15 Days = One Fortnight
2 Fortnights = One Month

28. Time (Samaya) Continued..
12 Months = One Year
5 Years = One Yuga
8,400,000 x 8,400,000 years = One Purva (70,560,000,000,000 Years)
Innumerable Years = One Palyopama
10 x 10,000,000 x 10,000,000 Palyopama = One Sagaropama
20 x 10,000,000 x 10,000,000 Sagaropama = One Time Cycle
One Palyopama
The time required to empty Sixty Four cubic Gau (512 cubic miles) deep well, completely filled with hair of a seven day old newly born baby and one hair is removed every 100 years.

29. Time Cycle Time is a continuous Cycle of Decline and Rise Era
Time Cycle - Käl Chakra
20 x 10,000,000 x 10,000,000 Sägaropam Years
Utsarpini (Rising Era)
10 x 10,000,000 x 10,000,000 Sagaropams
from Miserable to Happiness
Avasarpini (Declining Era)
10 x 10,000,000 x 10,000,000 Sagaropams
from Happiness to Miserable
Time is a continuous Cycle of Decline and Rise Era
Declining Era (Avasarpini) Time Cycle
Human virtues, Natural conditions decline over time
Rising Era (Utsarpini) Time Cycle
Human virtues, Natural conditions improve over time

30. Time Cycle (continued)
Six parts of Declining Era (Avasarpini) Time Cycle
1. Happy-happy x 10E14 Sagaropama
2. Happy 3 x 10E14 Sagaropama
3. Happy-unhappy 2 x 10E14 Sagaropama
4. Unhappy-happy 1 x 10E14 Sagaropama years
5. Unhappy years (present 2500 years)
6. Unhappy-unhappy years
Six parts of Rising Era (Utsarpini) Time Cycle
1. Unhappy-unhappy years
2. Unhappy years
3. Unhappy-happy 1 x 10E14 Sagaropama years
4. Happy-unhappy 2 x 10E14 Sagaropama
5. Happy 3 x 10E14 Sagaropama
6. Happy-happy 4 x 10E14 Sagaropama