Philosophy In Jain Agams: Similarity between Soul and Matter

In worldly state, soul and matter become interspersed; hence, there can be an inter-relation between them. Worldly souls are bound with both gross and subtle body. When a soul transmigrates from one birth (state of existence) to another, gross body remains, whereas, subtle bodies accompany the soul. The soul accompanied by subtle bodies only can possess another gross body in the next birth. Hence, here question arises 'how does a non corporeal soul enter into a corporeal body' - cannot arise because the worldly soul is already quasi-corporeal. This makes the process of bondage possible. Bhagavatī refers to the worldly soul as a corporeal one, since it is bound with karma. Due to its relation with the body, the soul is possessed with five kinds of colours, two types of smell etc.^[1] It is corporeal. Before the Jains too, there was an enigma related to the relation of heterogeneous elements. Attempts were made to address this by stating the similarity of corporeality between the worldly soul and matter in some respects.

Another question which arises is whether the soul in the worldly state has any similarity with matter in any respects and does matter also have any similarity with the soul? Jain philosophy responds to this in assertion. In Bhagavati, a question is raised on the mutual identity-cum-difference of the body and the soul. Is the body identical to the soul or it is different from the soul? Is it incorporeal or corporeal? Is it living or non-living? Addressing these questions, it has been said that the body is identical to the soul and also different from it. It is both-with form and form-less, living and non-living too.^[2] Here, the acceptance of the identity of the soul and the body, without form and living properties indicates the similarity of matter (body) with the soul. As the soul, is incorporeal by nature, it is regarded as corporeal from a relative perspective (when it is with the body). Similarly, being corporeal and non- living by nature, body is viewed as incorporeal and living, with the application of another perspective (when it is with the soul).