A neat lineup of six dravyas forms the backbone of Jain metaphysics in the Dravyasamgraha—think of them as the universe’s building blocks:

1. Jīva (soul)
   • Conscious, sentient substance imbued with perception and energy.
   • Each soul shines like a lantern, free yet tangled by karmic dust until pure liberation.

2. Pudgala (matter)
   • The only truly tangible element, from atoms to sprawling universes of particles.
   • Ever-changing, it’s the glue—and the grit—that binds souls and bodies together.

3. Dharma (principle of motion)
   • Not “righteousness” here, but the very medium making movement possible, like the oil in a machine.

4. Adharma (principle of rest)
   • Its yin to Dharma’s yang, granting stability and pause, so nothing zips off to infinity.

5. Ākāśa (space)
   • Room for everything to exist and unfold, the cosmic backdrop where drama plays out.

6. Kāla (time)
   • The silent referee orchestrating change, slicing moments into past, present, and future.

At the 2025 World Philosophical Congress, these six categories sparked fresh debates on consciousness versus materialism—proof that ancient ideas can still steal the spotlight. Nowadays, experience design and even AI ethics borrow the soul–matter split to tackle mind–body puzzles, showing that when it comes to fundamental ontology, it pays to go back to square one. No matter how high-tech gadgets get, the Dravyasamgraha reminds that everything—from the tiniest atom to the loftiest soul—dances within these six timeless arenas.