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ARHAT VACANA
Kundakunda napitha, Indore
Vol. 19, No. 3, July-September 07, 73-75
Scientific Aspects of Jainism
■Y. K. Jain
Abstract
Concept of six Dravyas (entities) in Jainism is unique. The details of Jiva, Ajiva, Dharma, Adharma, Kala & Äkäŝa are very scientific but the terminology used in its explantion is not scientific Present article gives a brief introduction about all these six entities.
In Jainism the reality is described by using the tool of Anekantavada or pluralism which says that a thing is multifaceted and depending upon perspective it shall appear to be different from different directions. Nonetheless reality is the integral view of all such uni directional views. For Example a cuboid appears to be square when seen from the sides. The soul or the Jīva is inherently pure, omniscient, omnipotent and blissful at all times. However in worldly state he undergoes transmigration traversing from hell to heaven and from human form to animal forms. How is it possible that the soul which is pure and omniscient, has to undergo such transformations? This is explained by use of Anckanta. While from real view or Niscaya view the soul is totally pure, from Vyavahāra view or practical view he is shackled by the bonds of Karmas from beginingless time, hence his knowledge has been obscured, which leads him to believe his body as the soul and all his efforts are directed towards benefiting the body. The real view is also true and the practical view is also true since it can be seen so. The integration of these views only is the reality and when one pure state of Moksha.
In the same way the spirituality and science are two aspects of the same coin. While spiritually deals with the soul which can only be experienced and not established by any conventional proof, the science deals with practical aspects of the matter which base all hypothesis based upon proofs. Both aspects are real and not imaginary. Integration of these two views provides the knowledges of the reality. One cannot ignore or suppress the practical view since it provides a knowledge of the way the things are, without knowing them one cannot identify soul from non soul.
Hence Jainism did not limit the description of the Dravyas (entities) Dravyas of the universe to just soul (jīva) and non soul (ajīva). The scientific aspect was also equally important to be characteristics as defferent from non soul. Therefore although they sides of the coin, the fact is that the two sides only make the coin.
The written scripture of Jainism is about 2000 years old which has its roots in the divine sermon of Bhagavana Mahāvīra which was given about 2500 years back. It must be borne in mind while studying them that most of the terminology was not scientific since their vocabulary was different and we have to interpret them in the corret perspetive. * 51, IEHCS Layout, 5th Block, 7th Main, Vidyarangapura, Banglore - 560 097
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