Dharma dravya metaphysics

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Srinivasan Kalyanaraman <kalyan97@g...> wrote:

Dharma-dravya in Sanatana Dharma-Jaina Dharma continuum of thought

 

Sanatana dharma calls it dharma; Jaina dharma calls it dharma-dravya.

An ordering is recognized as a principle of motion.

 

Four material substances identified in Jaina thought are: a_ka_s'a

(space), ka_la (change, time), dharma-dravya (motion) and

adharma-dravya (rest). These material substances plus ji_va (life,

aatman) and pudgala (whatever is perceived by senses, aji_va,

non-living) constitute the universe. Such a universe is an eternal

category of being (astikaya).

 

Why is there a reference to dharma-dravya and adharma-dravya to

explain action in time and space – action connoted by motion and by

rest?

 

If dravya is substance, dharma-dravya is explained as principle of

motion. The compound, dravya-naya 'substantial point of view' explains

that dravya means 'substance'. In the context of a yajna, dravya

connotes 'substance used in yajna'; dravya-yajna means 'yajna

involving substances'.

 

What does dharma mean in this compound dharma-dravya (dharma as

dravya)?

 

To unravel the semantics, we can also look at other compounds:

dharma-la_bha 'increase in righteousness'; dharma-svakhyatatva 'true

teachings of jina'; dharma-tirtha 'holy path'; dharma-dhyana 'virtuous

concentration'. Dharma is a virtue and in a unique semantic expansion

unique to Jaina thought, dharma is also an 'eternal substance'. It is

a dravya because it is a medium which allows other substances to move.

 

In the six dravya identified: a_ka_s'a, ka_la, dharma, adharma, ji_va

and pudgala, three substances – dravya -- are manifold: they are,

ka_la, ji_va, pudgala; three substances –dravya --are unique and

singular: a_ka_s'a, dharma, adharma, A_ka_s'a is what contains the

remaining dravya. ka_la is what modifies or changes the remaining

dravya.

 

Thus, dharma is a dravya, it is principle of motion. Adharma is a

dravya, it is principle of rest. Examples are provided to explain the

terms: water is a necessary condition for fishes to move; similarly,

dharma is a necessary condition for the motion of ji_va and pudgala.

Hence, dharma is called dharma-dravya. Earth is a necessary condition

for rest; similarly adharma is a necessary condition for rest of

substances in motion. Hence, adharma is called adharma-dravya.

 

Thus, dharma is explained as a condition, an ordering principle which

explains 'motion', that is, action.

 

Thus, it is, that dharma becomes the most active ordering principle of

the universe. Dharma is realised in performance, and hence, the

relationship to concept of responsibility. Dharma-vrata is discharge

of a responsibility related to a specific function or vow; dharma

vrata is a vrata to uphold dharma.

 

Treating a_ka_s'a and ka_la as modern equivalents of space-time in

Physics, a_ka_s'a-ka_la tell other substances on how to move, achieve

motion (dharma) or rest (adharma).

 

Dharma-dravya and adharma-dravya explain motion and rest. Dharma is

the ordering principle, the principle which explains all motion and

hence is the principle of motion.

 

Dharma according to Jaina thought can be realized only in motion, in

action.

 

This thought is central to the thoughts expressed in the Rigveda,

thought elaborated as sanatana dharma. Dharma is the principle which

explains the very organization of the universe in motion. This eternal

organizing principle, a dravya which is the principle and medium of

motion, all action, is sanatana dharma.

It will be an error to translate dharma as 'religion' using the

connotation related to revelations of christism or Islamism. Dharma is

NOT religion. Dharma is an eternal, inviolate ordering principle of

the universe. This principle of motion cannot be confined to the

narrow lanes and by-lanes of 'religion'. Dharma is a dravya which is

the principle of motion in the eternal category of the being called

the universe (astikaya): this is the semantic elaboration offered by

Jaina thought of the term sanatana dharma.

 

This dharma has to be the principle of governance (rajadharma), of

virtuous action (dharma-vrata), a_s'ramadharma (responsibility related

to stages of life), of jaati-janajaati morality (kula-dharma) and so

on in a social living in inexorable motion.

 

K.

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