________________
*
+
*
A QUANTITATIVE EVIDENCE TO SHOW THAT THE ANCIENT JAIN ACHARYAS MIGHT HAVE PERECEIVED ELEMENTARY PARTICLES OF MATTER THROUGH EXTRA SENSORY PERCEPTION.
* S. S. Pokharna + B. S. Pokharna
** J. S. Pokharna ABSTRACT Some ideas about extra sensory perception (ESP) in Jainism are presented. It is claimed that the true knowledge is structured in the soul and matter obstructs this knowledge. By getting rid of the material attachment, one can acquire a pure soul and can therefore perceive the whole reality. This knowledge is not restricted by space and time and can be developed to such an extent that one staris perceiving even the microscopic particles of matter. The sizes of these particles as given in Jainism are quite comparable to the sizes of the modern constiuents of matter. A simple interpretation of their ideas do not contradict the recent conclusions of Taylor and Balanovskii that electromagnetism is not involved in the transfer of paranormal information. 1. INTRODUCTION
Ancient Indians are claimed to be the masters of several paranormal phenomena like telepathy, clairvoyance and others. Any literature written about these masters, if studied in a scientific way, could provide new avenues of thought. The present paper concerns with an attempt made in this direction
The present work is based on a systematic study of the Jaina theory of knowledge, 1 the interrelation between matter and the soul, and the system of measurement of length in Jainism2. The basic assumption of their philosophy is that the knowledge is structured in the soul and in the state of purity, a perfect soul has infinite * Scientist, Space Applications Centre (ISRO), Ahmedabad. + 79, Maldas Street, Udaipur 313001. ** Senior Manager, Management Services, HCL, Khetrinagar, 333504 18. Seminar on Agama
Jain Education International
For Private & Personal Use Only
www.jainelibrary.org
