Concept of Matter in Jaina Philosophy

SR No.: 001663
Original Sutra Author: N/A
Author: J C Sikdar
Publisher: P V Research Institute Varanasi
Publication Year: 1987
Total Pages: 412
Language: English
Classification: Book_English, Philosophy, & Physics
File Size: 23 MB

Page 216

Properties of Matter
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to motion one point is common to both Jaina and NyāyaVaiseșika systems of thought that the material substances having limited magnitude are capable of motion.
OSCILLATION IN THE PHYSICAL SCIENCES
In the physical sciences oscillations of elastic bodies, e. g. the moving piston, the crankshaft, the tree swaying in the wind, the heart beat, the motion of planets, and many others, represent parispandana of Jaina Metaphysics, while motion of modern physics corresponds to gati of the latter. According to the physical sciences, motion is the change of position of a body with them. Absolute rest is unknown, for there is no stationary point in the Universe. Everything is in motion, though one object may be at rest in relation to another. Hence there cannot be absolute rest. Rest is here relative rest; an object is at relative rest with respect to another when it does not change its position in relation to the latter. As for example, kites flying in the sky in a formation are at a relative rest in relation to each other in their continuous motion. mɔtion is relative and the motion of a body involves a change of its position with respect to some known object, as there is no such fixed point in nature. There are stated to be many kinds of motion in the physical sciences. The uniform circular and pendulum motions among them are a class by themselves, while all others terminate, or take a body farther and farther away from its starting point.1 In the cases of circular and pendulum motions the path of a particle is continually retraced after a definite period of tims, they are called periodic motion. The simplest of all periodic motions are those performed by elastic bodies. The instantaneous displacements of the parts of an elastic body, when plotted against the time yield sine or cosine curves, are called harmonic curves. In general, 1. It is the deśāntaragati of Jaina Metaphysics. 2. It can be compared with ekasamayavigrahagoni, etc.