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Ätmasiddhi is termed as Pudgal. It is a composite of infinite Paramänus (the smallest particle), which are the most subtle, indivisible parts of matter. In scientific terms, subatomic particles may be treated as an approximation to Paramänus.
It is possible to bring about different articles by combinations of Paramänus or by composing them suitably. Such bringing about is called production. Actually, however, it is transformation, because what is being done is bringing out something by processing the articles that were already in existence. Thus what actually happens in the name of production is really transformation.
What we have to consider now is whether lifeless Pudgal can be transformed into the soul or, whether the soul can be transformed into Pudgal. Jainism states that such a transformation is not possible. With the help of science, we have brought out many lifeless objects by combination or composition of Pudgals. We have also been successful in producing robots and putting them to work, but no one could put life therein. No permutation, combination or composition of Pudgal can thus be visualized to bring about the conscious soul. On the same analogy, the conscious soul can never be reduced to lifeless matter.
કોઈ સંયોગોથી નહિ, જેની ઉત્પત્તિ થાય; નાશ ન તેનો કોઈમાં, તેથી નિત્ય સદાય.
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