Acharya Mahaprajna
Similar and Dissimilar
A substance has two attributes, universal as well as particular. Because of its universal attribute a substance becomes dissimilar. Because soul has the particular attribute of conscience it is dissimilar from a conglomerate of atoms physical substance (pudgal). In anekanta philosophy both similar and dissimilar are relative. Just because a substance possesses a particular quality it does not become dissimilar and just because it possesses universal quality it does not become similar. Hence no substance can permanently be categorised similar or dissimilar. On the basis of universal attribute it is wrong to look for dissimilarities in soul and atoms physical substance. This theory may also be explained by practical examples. One human being is not similar to the other. This difference is due to their disparity in 'genes', however because all human beings have sensory organs, a heart and such common qualities one human being is similar to the other.
