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There are countless regions in a single atom, and even in an elephant. This clearly shows that the extent of all living beings is not the same. The Bhagavati Sutra beautifully describes the concept of "alp bahutva" (lesser and greater) from the perspective of eight regions. It states that Dharma and Adharma substances are the least abundant compared to other substances. They are countless in regions and are limited to the Lokakasha (the space of the universe).
The regions of Jiva (living beings) are infinitely greater than those of Dharma and Adharma substances. This is because Dharma and Adharma are singular, while Jivas are infinite, and each Jiva has countless regions. The regions of Pudgala (matter) are infinitely greater than those of Jiva, as each Jiva's atomic region contains countless karmas, which are Pudgala. Even compared to Pudgala, the regions of Kala (time) are infinitely greater, as each Jiva and Pudgala has countless Paryayas (moments) in the present, past, and future. The number of regions of Akasha (space) is the greatest compared to Kala. All other substances are limited to the Lokakasha, while Akasha exists in both Lokakasha and Alokakasha (the space beyond the universe).
One might wonder how countless Pudgala atoms can fit in the countless regions of Lokakasha. If one Akasha region can hold one Pudgala atom, then countless regions can hold countless Pudgala atoms.
There is no obstacle to having infinite atoms in an Akasha region. This is because atoms and atomic clusters possess a unique "Avagahan Shakti" (capacity to accommodate). Just as Akasha, due to its Avagahan Guna (property of accommodating), provides space for other substances, similarly, atoms and clusters, due to their Avagahan Shakti, accommodate other atoms and clusters. For example, a light bulb in a room emits light, and if a thousand more bulbs are added, their light will also be contained within the room. Similarly, we can consider sound. From a Jain perspective, there are countless sounds in a single Akasha region. It is important to remember that light and sound, though Pudgalic, are also "Mritta" (non-permanent). If countless atomic clusters can exist in a single Akasha region in the case of the material, then it is not a question for the immaterial. No matter how dense a Pudgala cluster is, it has the capacity to accommodate other infinite atoms and Pudgala clusters.
It is possible that from the perspective of the most refined type of atom, it is said that one Akasha region is the size of one atom. From the perspective of motion, the slowest motion is that of one atom in one Kala (moment). In other words, the time it takes for one atom to travel from one Akasha region to another is one Kala, which is the smallest division of time. From the perspective of the fastest motion, one atom can travel fourteen Raju Lokas (universes) in one Kala.
In the modern age, science has made tremendous progress. Its unprecedented advancement is astonishing to scientists. Science has also recognized space, time, and matter as the fundamental basis of the universe. Without these three elements, the structure of the universe is not possible. Einstein, through his theory of relativity, has...