How Karma theory relates to Modern Science

Author(s): Dulichand Jain
Publisher: Z_Deshbhushanji_Maharaj_Abhinandan_Granth_012045.pdf

Page 10

immune system of our body which protects us from infection, is influenced by cur feelings and emotions. People in stressful situations are more likely to develop such problems as sore throat, influenza, etc. . Just as negative emotions like grief and anger produce adverse effects on our body, the positive emotions help in preventing and curing illness. Thus the secret of good health, longevity and happiness lies in a life of nonviolence, being at peace with oneself and with our environment. The above discussion indicates the effect of our thoughts and emotions on the life processes which involve material particles (the various chemicals in the body). The Jain theory of Karma also involves the effect of our thought-activity and passions on material Karma particles. It should, however, be remarked that Karma particles are different from the chemical substances in the body. Effect of Environment on our Feelings and Emotions
The fruition of Karma is the process involvin the effect of material particles on the living being. Again, it is beyond the realm of modern science to study such effects. However, there are many instances in which our environment, which is our pseudo-Karma according to the Jain principles, influences our thought-activities. Psychologists believe that our frame of reference and self-image are established early in life. These serve as guides in our later life. (This is like our past Karma affecting our present). Researchers have found that windowless classrooms and artificial lights are not conducive to learning. Sun light has been found to affect our mood and consequently the biological processes in our body. The sight of a beautiful piece of art, the meeting with our relatives and friends, watching a horror movie, etc., give rise to different kinds of thoughts and feelings. However, a person can develop his inner strength and may not let the environment influence his thought-activity and feelings. Similarly, a person can develop the capability to control the effect of fruition of Karma on his thought-activity and feelings. Some Parallels of Transformations of Karma
The Jain Karma theory implies that the material Karma particles associated with the soul of an individual contain information on the past thought-activity and passions of the individual. There could be some code for recording the nature (Prakrti), duration (Sthiti), fruition (Anubhāga), etc.. and the transference could involve altering this coded information by means of the appropriate thought-activity. This can be compared to the informational role of the nucleic acids, the functioning of our memory and the memory of a computer. Of these, so far, only the working of the memory of the computer is best understood. Modern computers store bits of information in extremely tiny cells. Each cell can store one bit of information and is a two-state device, one state representing a zero (0) and the other state, a one (1) The different characters are represented by different sequences of O's and 1's. For example, the sequence 11000001 represents the letter A and the sequence 11100011, the letter T. The contents of the memory of a computer can be easily changed by altering the sequences of O's and l's stored in the various cells. Very little is known about the functioning of the memory of a living being. "The task of RNA is to act as a copy of the genes and pass on this impressed blueprint for the correct construction of bodily proteins. In theory, therefore, the ability of RNA to handle information seemed to make it a suitable agent for the handling of memory.... Memory has three ingredients-registration, retention and recall...If RNA is the chemical that, by having its molecular pattern altered during registration, is the card index basis of memory, this fact does not explain how the card index is either maintained (retention) or used (recall)." However, learning a new solution to a mathematical problem or the new address and telephone number of a friend, for setting something, etc, constitute changes in the information stored in our memory. The new and developing field of genetic engineering involves manipulation of the genes, i.e., modifying the information stored in them. These are some examples of modifications of 1. See Bibliography, Ref. No. 7 2. Ibid, Ref. No. 8 3. Ibid, Ref. No. 9
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