Jain Journal 1989 01

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

Page 23

92
JAIN JOURNAL
"Neutrons themselves are last detected by making them collide with protons, i.e., by letting the neutron beam pass through a hydrogeneous medium, say water or paraffin wax. Since the neutron and the proton have approximately the same mass, their collision is analogous to that between two billiard balls. In a head-on collision the neutron is brought to rest and the proton is emitted in the forward direction with the whole energy. In the off-centre collisions the proton may be emitted at different angles but from the angle of emission and from the energy of the proton the energy of the neutron can be deduced.”:168
In regard to bandha-parināma-pratighāta of paramāņu a similar theory is found in the physical sciences. “Every atom exerts a force upon every other atom. The details and the magnitude of the force vary as between one type of atom and another, but in general, the force is always a force of attraction when the atoms are at a distance apart greater than their normal diameters, changing to a force of repulsion if the atoms are forced very close together. Thus there will be a tendency for atoms because of their force of attraction to draw together and stick. 169
The Jaina view of upākārābhāva-pratighāta of paramānu (ultimate atoms) compares well with the view of modern science that beyond the borders of the finite universe even the light rays do not travel, as nothing lies beyond, probably nothing manifested; “light rays, apparently going in a circle, returning boomerang-like to their point of departure."170 That is to say, they are resisted or checked like paramānus of Jaina philosophy at the last border of the universe because of the absence of the support of motion.
Transformation of Paramāņu
According to the Samkhya philosophy, "change is taking place everywhere, from the smallest and least to the highest. Atoms and reals are continuously vibrating and changing places in any and every object. At each moment the whole universe is undergoing change, and the collocation of atoms at any moment is different from, what it was at the previous moment."'171
168 Ibid., p. 87. 169 Ibid., p. 126. 170 Mysteries of Space, p. 5 (UNESCO Pamphlet). 171 History of Indian Philosophy by Dr. S. N. Dasgupta, Vol. 1, p. 250.