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Jainism: True Religion with True Science (The Global Impact)
- Harendra Shah
Jain philosophy is on reliable scientific foundation and has much more to offer. Like modern science, it is based on logic, experience, reasoning, common sense, self-initiatives and self-efforts.
like Obesity, heart related, cancer and diabetic. And Vegetarians live longer than meat eaters.
So far so good, Jainism and modern science agree to a great extent.
Jain scriptures provide classical knowledge not only about life and consciousness but also about the external world. The description of the universe (space), structure and dynamics of matter, time and principle of nothing can be created or destroyed - puts Jainism on a sound scientific footing.
Modern scientific discoveries supposed to be advantageous to all living beings and some are like medical science - But many of them, driven by individual, corporate and national greed, have put overemphasis on material welfare and misled humans to use science and technology to exploit human themselves, animals and natural resources. This has resulted into degradation of socio-moral norms, modern ecological crisis and increased the possibility of nuclear disaster.
Great physicist of our time, Stephen Hawking writes that the universe may be finite, self-contained, no beginning or end in time, and therefore nothing for a creator to do. Doesn't he sound like a Jain scholar?
The present discoveries on the weight-less particles like Photon, graviton and gluon are along the lines of the karmic particles as described by Jain thinkers. So is modern genetic science.
Jain's unique contribution of Anekaantvaad - Non- absolutism - multiplicity of views is supported by scientific research approaches and Einstein's theory of relativity. However, Anekaantvaad under umbrella of non-violence is much more advanced and offers innovative approach to deal with the fast changing social, cultural, political and psychological situations.
For example:
World dumps hundreds of millions of tons of toxic waste in environment - every year.
About 40 percent of deaths worldwide are caused by water, air and soil pollution. •Annually, United States alone generates 60 million tons of hazardous waste and a total of 11 billion tons of solid waste. 25% of world population lacks clean water. Rise in Greenhouse effect and global temperature. • Potential of Nuclear disaster. There is 52000 of commercial nuclear waste and about 200 million gallons of nuclear waste from production nuclear heads.
Jains believe that earth, water, air, plants are also living beings. Science agrees with plants, getting closer to air and invisible living beings.
Contrary to this, Jainism has always been staunch protector of nature. Jainism is fundamentally a religion of ecology and has turned ecology into a religion.
Jain Food science - vegetarianism - in that - what to eat, what not to eat, when to eat and how much to eat is supported by medical doctors. So are Jain contemplation and meditation methods. Modern Science has proved that Vegetarian diets can meet all nutritional needs and provide health benefits in the prevention and treatment of certain diseases
In addition, the true science should be consisted of continuous act of unconditional compassion. To Jains, science of compassion and non-violence is "way of life". Contrary to this, many technological advances have created new methods of violence:
Jainism: The Global Impact
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