धर्मास्तिकाय-अधर्मास्तिकाय और जैन दर्शन

Summary

The text discusses the Jain philosophical concepts of Dharmastikaya and Adharmastikaya, two fundamental, non-physical substances that are not perceptible to the senses. Their existence is established through scriptural authority and logical inference. Dharmastikaya is defined as the medium of motion, assisting the movement of souls (jiva) and matter (pudgala) without itself moving. It is formless, colorless, tasteless, and touchless, occupying the entire cosmic space (lokakasha) and serving as the boundary between the cosmos and the non-cosmos. It is eternal, indivisible, and consists of innumerable spatial units. The text uses analogies like water for fish or railway tracks for a train to illustrate its passive, supportive role in enabling all forms of motion, from blinking to thinking. Adharmastikaya is the complementary substance, serving as the medium of rest. It is similarly non-physical, passive, and co-extensive with the cosmos, providing the necessary support for the cessation of motion. Without it, all entities would be in perpetual motion. The text argues for the necessity of these substances by pointing out that motion and rest are observable effects requiring a cause. If the sky (akasha) were the cause, there would be no limit to motion, and the universe would lack its fixed structure. The text also addresses the apparent paradox of these substances being both inactive and subject to change, clarifying that they are devoid of spatial movement but undergo internal, moment-to-moment modifications. Finally, it draws a comparison to the scientific concept of ether, noting that while early ether theories posited a physical medium, Dharmastikaya is a non-material principle.