Jain Journal 1969 07

Author(s): Jain Bhawan Publication
Publisher: Jain Bhawan Publication

Page 17

JAIN JOURNAL
1.
Introduction
Jaina philosophy not only talks of the possibility of the attainment of omniscience, by the liberated souls, it also contains a mechanistic theory about the channel of the acquisition of the extra-sensory supreme knowledge. There is no mystery involved in it. We shall explore into this mechanistic theory of omniscience as mentioned in Jaina philosophy with the background of modern scientific knowledge.
The Tattvārtha Sutra defines sat and dravya as follows : 'utpāda vyaya dhrauvya yuktam sat' and 'sat dravya laksanam'. Sat or 'existent' is a collective name for a triple state of existence comprised of utpada (origination of a new mode or shape), vyaya (destruction of the old mode or shape) and dhrauvya (permanence of the substratum of substance). Dravya or substance is possessed of this trinity which is called sat. Thus every substance possesses permanency while undergoing modification.
Dravya or substance according to the Jainas are six in number, viz., jiva, (souls), pudgala (matter), ākāśa (space), dharma (medium of motion), adharma (medium of rest), kālāņus (time-particles).
Now, this triple state of existence is simultaneously accomplished in every substance by the rise and fall of the wave crest and trough of their inherent imperceptible stationary wave-motion. An example of stationary wave-motion is the waves happening on the surface of water. Of course, soul and matter possess, in their condition of bondage, perceptible and imperceptible changes, in the form of birth, growth, decay and death in different organic beings and elementary particles of matter combining into molecules of infinite forms and sizes. Yet the imperceptible wave-motion serves as the heart or core of all these changes. The wave-motion happens in every substance, every moment, incessantly, because of their inherent perpetual energy, making substance dynamic and pulsating eternally.
Scientists speak of several kinds of wave-motion or simply waves, viz., water waves or wave-motion happening on the surface of water ; sound waves generated by the vibrating objects passing in the medium of air ; the electro-magnetic waves comprising the light, radio and television waves travelling in the medium of ether, and so on.
The Jainas were aware of all these waves of external sources and, in their opinion, these stimuli form the medium for the mundane soul's