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JAINA CONVENTION 2017
Jainism accepts atman and the word for spirituality is Adhyatma which implies peculiarity of Atman. Atman is knowledge itself. Hence the peculiarity of knowledge (Jnana) is Adhyatma (Spirituality) as well as Vijnana (Science)13. Both of them work for union. One establishes union with outside world and the other with the inner world. One is used as a means, the other one as an end. One gives life style the other one gives us goal of life. We should pursue both but we forgot the 'I' the Atman, the center. We expanded the circumference but did not give importance to the center 'Atman'.
SCIENCE AND SPIRITUALITY:
Without spirituality, there will be no peace in life and without science; there will be no prosperity in the world. Both are needed for human society. Only science cannot do anything. It should be guided by spirituality. Just as there are two kinds of machines in the car - one showing the direction and the other increasing speed. The speed-increasing machine for the human society is science but the direction showing machine should be spirituality. Science is analytic, spirituality is synthetic. The progress of Science and therefore technology is inevitable. The problem before us is does it lead to human welfare? It can lead to welfare if it is guided by spirituality. As science should be distinguished from technology so spirituality from institutional religion. Spirituality is belief in unity and sanctity of life. The direction showing machine or steering wheel for the whole humanity must be spirituality and the speed increasing machine or accelerator must be Science.
CONCLUSION If science is rightly guided, it is greatest boon for humankind. Survival of humankind is possible only by integration of Science and Spirituality. Science will never succeed in destroying the spiritual urge in man and like Science, spirituality also has to evolve continuously newer formulations of Self-realization.
Without Science, there will be no pleasure in life and without spirituality there will be no peace in life. Both are needed for human society. Only science cannot do anything. It should be guided by Spirituality. Just as science is analytic, spirituality is synthetic. There are two kinds of machines in the Car - one showing the direction and the other increasing speed. The speedincreasing machine for the human society is science but the direction showing machine should be spirituality.
Science and technology have developed in modern world but the scientist is not scientific. The real scientist is dispassionate without any desire / demand. Spirituality also should develop at par with science. Science brings prosperity and spirituality brings peace, spirituality is nothing but look within, to understand one's ego and to know one's own passions, so that one can remove them. One has to remove 'mineness' and establish equanimity. In these days of Science, one has to raise oneself beyond one's mind. Mind has got attachment and aversion, passions which divide human society. The need of science is unanimity. With this there will be no exploitation and possessiveness. Science is to be utilized for creativity and not for destruction.
