A living being, or jīva, in the Tattvartha Sūtra is first and foremost pure consciousness—an eternal, sentient essence that, by default, glows with infinite knowledge and bliss. Like a spotless mirror, it reflects reality perfectly until karmic particles cloud its surface. Underneath every thought and emotion lies this luminous self, temporarily veiled by the “cosmic housekeeping” of karma.

Classification hinges on two key features: sense-organs and life-destinies.

1. By Sense-Organs

   • Ekenḍriya (one-sensed): Mirroring earth, water, fire, or air—simple life-forms like plants, earth-worms, or fungi.
   • Dvidrīya (two-sensed): Beings with touch and taste—mostly worms and leeches.
   • Tridrīya (three-sensed): Adding smell to touch and taste—certain insects.
   • Chaturdrīya (four-sensed): Sight joins the party—fish and most reptiles.
   • Pacendrīya (five-sensed): Full spectrum of senses—humans, animals, and heavenly beings.

2. By Life-Destiny (Gati)
   Each soul wanders through five realms, depending on its karmic load:

   • Naraka (hellish states)
   • Tiryañcha (animal and plant realms)
   • Manuṣya (human realm)
   • Deva (heavenly realms)
   • Siddha (liberated state)

Further nuances emerge when souls are “embodied” versus those in a more subtle, disembodied phase—among them, prophets in deep meditation or ascetics who’ve shed finer karmas.

Modern neuroscience and AI debates often puzzle over “What is consciousness?” While algorithms can sift data in milliseconds, the Jain vision insists consciousness isn’t mere information processing. It’s an immortal spark, momentarily dimmed by karmic shadows. Think of it like a smartphone battery draining under heavy apps—unless the apps (karmas) get uninstalled, full brightness can’t be restored.

Today’s mindfulness movements echo these ancient insights, teaching that awareness isn’t a byproduct of the brain but an intrinsic facet of existence itself. The Tattvartha Sūtra remains remarkably relevant: classification may look like taxonomy, but its aim is freedom. Once the soul transcends all karmic clutters, it shines in its original glory—unbounded, all-knowing, and blissful.