Defiition of Living in Jain Cannons An Evaluation

Author(s): N L Jain
Publisher: Z_Umravkunvarji_Diksha_Swarna_Jayanti_Smruti_Granth_012035.pdf

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चतुर्थ खण्ड / ३६६
Einsteins and Natwarlals at their will from the specitic genes characteristic of these type of species. 68 These new experiments have created a stir in the minds of the east and west and they have started crying that these experiments should be prohibited. There will be chaos in the world as it directly affects their religcous beliefs.
This scientific concept about the living leads to the material nature of the living element suggestive of equating cells with life element. It reminds us of the materialistic philosopbers but it seems to be more accurate and fine one. It would, thus, mean that human body has not one, but 1013 living units in it performing and coordinating their functions remarkably and independently. This concept also leads to the microscopic perceptiblity of the life element. Both these inferences do not find support from Jaina cannons as far as pure life element is concerned. The worldly living, however, satisfies these inferences as it is material and ultra sense perceptible.
Formerly, the scientists presumed the energies to be of non-material nature following the conservation law. Thus, the above cannonical concepts may be taken as suggestive of the pure life element in the form of energy rather than cellular. However, the Jainas have postulated the energy also to be of atomic or material nature from the very beginning though they may be sufficiently finer than cells. The current science has also confirmed about the interconvertiblity of matter and energy. Accordingly, the life element may be assumed to be of energetic nature whose non-materiality may be defined in terms of sense-imperceptibility. This assumption has been confirmed by scientific experiments which have shown that a newly born baby is associated with a charge of app. 500 V of electrical energy and at death, charge is nearly vanished despite the fact that nobody knows at present where does this charge go at death.69 It is, however, presumed that the charge may be hoovering round the dead for sometime. This leads us to the fact that the living element is a form of fine energy particles called fine action or electrical or calorific bodies by the Jajnas. The recent of telephonic talks (Spirocom) with spirits of the dead by O'neil and Meek also suggest a similar view of the life element to be made up of fine light waves. 70 This association of fine bodies with the living makes it material. The maximum number of properties described in cannons and Dhavla71 also support this view. The computers are another examples to support material generation of knowledge or conscicusness of the desired nature. That is why the physical brain of man is called one of the most efficient and complex natural computer.
It must, bowever, be noted that whether the cannonical life element is assumed cellular or energetic, there is no interference or effect on its important properties. Both concepts can explain the effects and changes in thought activities, knowledge and energy of the living unit due to cellular