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skandha or molecules. It is interesting to note that the rules for joining of atoms are dependent on its dryness or wetness and the difference of them having a certain number which is so analogous to today's terminology of positive and negative charge! However the real surprise lies in telling that the jiva as well as pudgala have the property of sharing same space with other jiva and pudgala known as avagāhana property. This is the only way we can explain! This is something which is yet to be explained by scientists.
Law of conservation of energy and matter was declared long back in jainism, so also relatively which forms the foundation of Jainism. The interaction of karma particles to soul for binding and fruitation has been elaborated in detail to explain transmigration. These particles function as particles while binding and on fruitation they give rise to a sort of electromagnetic field which induces further action on the part of the soul, which in turn attracts more particles in the vicinity and their influx leads to binding of them as future karmas. Eight types of karmas with their differnt properties, duration, intensity etc. have all been described very scientificallly.
The purpose of all these description was to explain to the human being, the roles of different entities and how soul was different from all of them which can be realised by only experiencing it and cannot really be described in words. The practical view functions the ladder for reaching the goal wherein when the goal is reached, the ladder is discarded. In the same way, the scientific aspects function as tools for understanding the reality and once the reality is understood, there is no further purpose of practical view since all is known in totality unambiguously. In fact it becomes a hindrance since if one remains absorbed in the practical aspects, one's mind cannot focus on the real self.
Science denotes the knowledge of all knowables which the soul has the capability to know. Hence once he knows the self, he knows all. However, to know the self he has to distinguish himself from non soul and to contemplate on the self spiritually. Therefore he has to bring his attention on to the self starting from the entire universe knowing and discarding it as not his self. Then only he achieves the goal of Mokşa.
It would to be apt to see what Albert Einstein has said upon the subject of science and religion:
"One can have the clearest and most complete knowledge of what is, and yet not be able to deduct from that what should be the goal of our human aspirations."
He has clearly stated that science provides the tool while religion provides the goal.
Both are complementary and they together form the complete entity. The science forms the practical side of knowledge while religion imparts the spiritual side, and they together form the totality of knowledge as it exist in the knowledge of the omniscient. Received: 18.09.06 Arhat Vacana, 19 (3), 2007
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