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Reflection on the Implications of Some Ideas of Umāsvāti in
his Tattvārthasūtra
NATHMAL Tatia
Introduction In this paper I intend to discuss the implications of some of the aphorisms of the Tattvārthasūtra of Umāsvāti in the light of modern thought. These aphorisms are pregnant with ideas that modern philosophy and science have endorsed. Umāsvāti has very carefully explained the essential doctrines of the Jaina scriptures. While going through the works of Professor A. N. Whitehead, I found many discussions that are very similar to the ideas contained in the aphorisms of Umāsvāti. The book entitled Religion and Science by IAN g. Barbourl was also critically studied by me in order to understand the close relationship between religion and science which helped me to understand the deep implications of the ideas of Umāsvāti. I have selected only four topics for brief discussion. ---
Interservice of souls In the Tattvārthasūtra’, Parasparopagraho Jivānām, ‘souls render service to one another, it has been said that the souls create common environments. In the following passage of his Adventures of Ideas3 Professor Whitehead explains how coordination is
