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CALABARREGENSTERNEN
JAINA CONVENTION 2017
Jainism and Science
By Pujya Acharya Shri Chandanaji Maharaj
Jainism is a science. There is nothing like Jainism and Science, Jain philosophy itself is total science. To know is not a belief - it is a science. To believe, however, requires faith. For instance, we know that there is a sun, we do not say that we have a belief there in a sun, we just know it. In Jainism, it is said that foremost you should know yourself.
Jain philosophy says that that there are 6 dravyas (substances) - 5 of these are Ajive (or non living) and 1 is jive (or living). To us ajive and jive seem like one. Just as milk and water are separate, to us they seem to be one. However, to know that the living is different from the non-living, to make effort to know the nature of each is true Jainism. Each is separate but we cannot distinguish between them - but to come to know that they are distinct, to understand this, and to accept that they are different - this is the truth underpinning Jainism.
Not to eat this or that, to do penances, to restrict what work one can do or not do, all this is not Jainism. These are the methods, this is the discipline. Discipline is something different from the principle. The principle does not change. The foremost principle of Jainism is non-violence and this is sacrosanct. To respect every living being is a must, protecting nature is a must, if you want to survive. The reason for this is that to be able to live we take things from others, and if in the process of taking we are cruel and harsh, then in return even nature will be harsh towards us resulting in unhappiness for us. However, if we live our lives through disseminating love and harmony, there will be no resulting sadness and, more importantly, even nature will respect us. This is not a belief- this is science. Actually this understanding and knowledge is the very foundation for our life. How will we attain bliss, how can we survive without harming others (and self)- this is Jainism. If you maintain a good relationship with every part of the universe, then the universe will reciprocate this love-this is the eternal truth of the universe. We are a very small part of this world and we need to understand what type of connection we should have with this world - to foster that love, that respect and knowing the interdependence of life. Understand and know your true nature - this is indeed the essence of Jain philosophy.
To summarise:
The world exists in its own way.
You are part of the universe, not a distinct unrelated entity.
You should respect all if you want to live peacefully in this world. True protection of self and oth
ers is through love and friendship, not through causing harm.
To know your nature and your connection with this world is Jain philosophy. And Jain philosophy is nothing else than a science.
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