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is formed by combination of light rays and being a form of light is undoubtedly material. The simple image according to Jains is akin to the virtual image according to science. This includes shadow only and the image is not formed by combination of light rays. All this means that the Jain doctrine considers shadow to be a transformation of matter and that is in conformation with modern science.
Darkness - The Jain scholars of metaphysics consider darkness also to be a transformation of matter (process of material transformation). Kaņāda and other Vedic philosophers consider darkness to be absence of light. This means that darkness is a negative concept. According to Jain philosophers, the attributes of darkness block vision and are antithetic to light. In darkness things are not visible and it is the antithesis of light. Modern science also considers darkness to be the antithesis of light. It also does not accept darkness to be the absence of light. In darkness also there is infrared radiation to which the vision of owl and cat and specially designed optical plates are sensitive. Thus existence of darkness is independent of light; it is not just the absence of light. Therefore, it is a form of matter.
Sound - The Vaiseșika philosophy postulated that sound is an attribute of space but the Jains consider sound to be a mode or variation of matter. This Jain belief gets support from modern inventions of science. Sound can be recorded in gramophone records and tapes. A receiver can receive it. A wireless transmitter can transmit it. It reflects and produces echo and it travels through air in transverse and longitudinal waves. This movement can be confirmed with the help of resonance tubes. As it is received by the physical sense organ of hearing (ear) sound is also physical or material. Sound is produced by collision of skandha (particles of matter). All this is affirmed by science.
Jain scriptures have made the following classification of sound - There are two categories of sound - literal (bhāṣātmaka) and nonliteral (abhāṣātmaka). The literal sound is also of two types verbal (aksarātmaka) and non-verbal (anaksarātmaka). The non-literal sound also has two types - instrumental (prāyogika) and natural (vaisrasika). Instrumental is of four types – tat (produced by stringed instruments), vitat (produced by percussion instruments), tāla (produced by clapping
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