Jain Journal 1989 01

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

Page 12

The Electro-Magnetic Field in Man
GYAN CHAND JAIN
A modern discovery discussed and correlated with Jaina Theory of Karman and Taijas Bodies
The fact of electro-magnetic field in every living being and man is a very important discovery, or, rather rediscovery of modern science. It was also known, in west, in past. Galen advised electric shock from torpedo fish as a cure for headache. The spiritualists of various sorts have been using it and creating effects on persons and things. Now these phenomena are electricity and magnetism. The electricity in a human. body can be known through electronic-cephalograph, ossilograph etc. In fact, our every action, voluntary and involuntary, such as muscular contraction and glandular secration involve the use of electricity.2 A Russian scientist Dr. Arkadieve has calculated 10.9 watt electricity in a human body. This is of a very weak type but it is possible to develop it through concentration and other practices of yoga.3 Dr. R. M. Kasliwal has interpreted Sankhya concept of prakṛti and puruşa in electro-magnetic terms in his recent articles. He says that every man has a unit magnetic body in association with a electric body, giving rise to electro-magnetic field. The magnetic body is puruşa while the electric one is prakṛti together giving rise to the human personality. Dr. Kasliwal calls the electromagnetic field as 'self consciousness', unit magnetic field as 'cosmic consciousness'. Cosmic consciousness may be taken as kevala jñāna of Jainism but it may better be interpreted as Brahma of Vedanta as he talks of merging of unit magnetic field into cosmic field and presently existing as part of the 'whole'. It may be remembered that Sankhya (or Yoga) system does not conceive its purusas as merging into any cosmic entity.
Though Dr. Kasliwal has drawn parallels with Sankhya-Yoga system but his whole concept is a physicalistic one. He conceives consciousness as energy, energy' as convertible into matter or 'mass'. To conceive consciousness as energy or force has not been uncommon even in the
1 Julian Huxley, Essays of Humanists, p. 54.
2 Ibid.
3 R. M. Kasliwal in 'Spiritualism and Science', a paper published in Parapsychology, Vol. IV No. 4, 1962-63.
4 Ibid and 'Soul and Science' in 'The Cosmic Society', Oct., 1964.