Living Beings and Things Without Life: From the Sacred Jain Scripture - Uttaradhyayana, Part 2 of 2

“Living beings which still belong to the Samsâra [cycle of death and rebirth], are of two kinds: a. movable, and b. immovable ones: the immovable ones are of three kinds: α. Earth Lives, β. Water Lives, and γ. plants; these are the three kinds of immovable living beings; now learn from me their subdivision. […]

Seven thousand years is the longest duration of the life of Water Lives […].

γ. Plants are of two kinds: subtle and gross ones; and both of them are either fully developed or undeveloped.

The gross and fully developed plants are of two kinds: either many have one body in common, or each has its own body.

Those who severally have their own body are of many kinds: trees, shrubby plants, shrubs, big plants, creeping plants, grass, Palms, plants of knotty stems or stalks, mushrooms, water-plants, annual plants, and herbs. These are called plants possessing severally their own body. […]”

“4. Beings with five organs of sense are of four kinds: denizens of hell, animals, men, and gods. […]

c. Men are of two kinds […]: men originating by generatio aequivoca [or spontaneous generation], and men born from the womb.

Those who are born from the womb are of three kinds: those living in the Karmabhûmi [land where humans need to engage in action and work in order to earn their livelihood and survive], those living in the Akarmabhûmi [land where humans do not have to work and all their needs are fulfilled], and those living on the minor continents. […]

[…] Men originating by generatio aequivoca [or spontaneous generation] are of as many kinds. They all live but in a part of the world. […]

Those souls who cherish heretical opinions, commit sins, and are enveloped in black Lêsyâ [soul complexion], will not reach Bôdhi at the time of death.

Those who love the creed of the Ginas [enlightened persons] and piously practice it, will be pure and free from the soil (of passions), and will (in due time) get out of the Circle of Births.

[…] Those who are well versed in the sacred texts and possess much knowledge, who awaken piety (in others) and appreciate their good qualities, are for this very reason worthy to hear the doctrine of salvation.”