Book Title: Family and Nation Author(s): Mahapragna Acharya, A P J Abdulkalam Publisher: Harper Publications IndiaPage 46
________________ 32 THE FAMILY AND THE NATION occurred? What was the purpose? Was it just another example of man being at the mercy of an unforgiving cosmos, or revenge being taken by the Earth for the environmental damage inflicted by humanity? Or was it fate or even a punishment from God Almighty? The Universe is constructed from a multitude of materials. It is dynamic in form and shape due to the innumerable processes and interactions between these materials and structures. To the human, however, in his need to establish his place and purpose in the Universe, the most important material is biological and the most important process is evolution. How can a human learn to understand himself, an understanding that is vital to his survival? The reality is made up of two eternal principles, jiva and ajiva. Both jiva and ajiva are eternal; they never came into existence for the first time and will never cease to exist. Jiva consists of an infinite number of identical spiritual units. Ajiva (that is, non-jiva) is matter in all its forms and the conditions of existence, namely, time, space, and movement. The whole world is made up of jivas trapped in ajiva; there are jivas in rocks, plants, insects, animals, human beings, spirits and so on. Science has revealed that the human body is made up of millions and millions of atoms. The differences between one human being and another, and between any living being and non-living being, are all determined by the sequencing of a few atoms. Any contact whatsoever of the jiva with the ajiva causes the former to suffer and therefore existence in this world inevitably means suffering. Neither social reform nor the reform of individuals themselves can ever stop this suffering. The only way to escape from suffering is for the jiva to liberate itself from the human condition, from human existence. Jain Education International For Private & Personal Use Only www.jainelibrary.orgPage Navigation
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