Principle of Permanence‑in‑change in Jaina Philosophy
By J. C. Sikdar
Summary
J. C. Sikdar examines the Jain doctrine of permanence‑in‑change. Jains assert that substances (souls, matter, motion, rest, space and time) are eternal yet manifest transient modes. Essential qualities endure while accidental states change. The article reviews canonical sources like Tattvārtha Sūtra and Niyamasāra to show how this doctrine reconciles permanence and change. Sikdar contrasts the Jain view with Buddhist momentariness and Vedānta’s illusionism, and draws parallels with Aristotelian substance‑accident distinctions. He also explains how the doctrine underlies Jain ethics and logic, notably the theory of conditional predication (syādvāda).
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Conclusion
By affirming that substances have unchanging essences while manifesting changing modes, Jainism bridges eternalism and flux. This insight grounds its ethical program: the soul can purify itself because its inherent consciousness remains untouched beneath karmic modifications. The doctrine also underlies Jain logic, enabling multiple, context‑dependent assertions about the same reality.