A neat roadmap to Jain metaphysics, Dravyasamgraha unfolds six eternal “dravyas” (substances) and weaves them into a coherent vision of reality. Jiva (soul) and five kinds of ajiva (non-soul)—Pudgala (matter), Dharma (principle of motion), Adharma (principle of rest), Akasha (space), and Kala (time)—are laid out with surgical precision. Instead of sweeping claims about a single divine source, this concise text insists on a pluralistic cosmos where every soul is an enduring, conscious entity.

Key philosophical pillars include:

1. Dualism of Soul and Matter
   Souls possess intrinsic consciousness and bliss, distinct from inert matter. No monist mumbo-jumbo here—each jiva stands alone, responsible for its own journey.

2. Eternal, Uncreated Universe
   Rejecting creationist models, the Dravyasamgraha paints a universe without beginning or end. Just as modern cosmologists debate cyclic universes, Jain thought has long held that reality spins on without a divine starter pistol.

3. Karma as Subtle Matter
   Actions aren’t merely moral breezes but tangible karmic particles that cling to the soul. Liberation demands painstaking removal of these karmic deposits—a concept that resonates with emerging neuroscience views on how experiences leave “imprints” in the brain.

4. Principles of Motion and Rest
   Dharma and Adharma aren’t moral judgments but the very mediums that allow motion or stasis. It’s the elephant in the room of classical metaphysics, explaining how movement happens without invoking outside forces.

5. Nonviolence Rooted in Ontology
   By showing life’s pervasive interconnectedness, nonviolence (ahimsa) becomes more than an ethical rule—it’s the silver lining emerging from the text’s metaphysical terrain. Every act of harm introduces fresh karmic bonds, underlining ahimsa’s existential urgency.

6. Analytical Methodology
   Borrowing tools like upamana (comparison), arthapatti (presumption), and anupalabdi (non-apprehension), it crafts rigorous proofs. In a way, this foreshadows today’s interdisciplinary methods, where philosophy, logic, and even data science intersect to crack tough puzzles.

These arguments aren’t dusty relics. Whether reflecting on environmental ethics or the search for consciousness in AI, the Dravyasamgraha’s insistence on individual responsibility and the material roots of experience still pack a punch. It’s a timeless invitation to marry deep reflection with everyday living.